1. POL 101: U.S. Government
Dr. Kevin Lasher

2. Modern American Ideology: Themes
Attitude toward government regulation of U.S. economy
Attitude toward government regulation of personal issues

3. American Ideologies
Liberalism
Conservatism
Libertarianism
Populism

4. Government Intervention in Economy
Modern American Ideologies
Government Intervention in Economy
FOR AGAINST
Government
Intervention
in Personal
Matters
AGAINST
FOR
LIBERALS LIBERTARIANS
POPULISTS CONSERVATIVES
Moderates

5. (Left) (Center) (Right)
Economic Issues
Personal Issues
Populists
Populists
(Left) (Center) (Right)
Liberals
Moderates
Conservatives
Libertarians
Libertarians
Personal Issues
Economic Issues

6. “Typical” Ideological Division: Blue Collar Job Loss
Liberals Moderates Conservatives
Liberals: generous unemployment, government retraining programs, government jobs
Conservatives: economic growth will produce better-paying jobs
Moderates: in-between policy
Libertarians: Side with conservatives; winners and losers

7. “Typical” Ideological Division: Health Care Reform
Liberals Moderates Conservatives
Liberals: more than Obama-care, single-payer system
Conservatives: anti-Obama-care, modify existing private insurance
Moderates: embrace Obama-care as best reform of current system
Libertarians: Side with conservatives; government stay out of health care

8. “Typical” Ideological Division: Medical Marijuana
Liberals Moderates Conservatives
Liberals: no problem, maybe full legalization/decriminalization
Conservatives: social costs outweigh medical benefits, danger of “slippery slope”, all drugs are bad
Moderates: support for true medical cases, but don’t think about legalization
Libertarians: Side with liberals; “toke up”

9. “Typical” Ideological Division: Gay Marriage
Liberals Moderates Conservatives
Liberals: accept gay life-style; government should recognize long-term commitment of gay couples
Conservatives: government must prohibit; gay marriages violate “sacred” institution of marriage
Moderates: recognize “partnership agreements”
Libertarians: Side with liberals, none of my business

10. Ideology: A Different View

11. Question about Ideology
Very liberal
Liberal
Moderate
Conservative
Very Conservative
Extreme libertarians can honestly answer 1 or 5
(economic or personal issues)
Extreme populists can honestly answer 1 or 5

12. What about Political Parties?

13. Political Parties Government Intervention in Economy Govt.
FOR AGAINST
Govt.
Intervention
in Personal
Matters
LIBERALS
LIBERTARIANS
AGAINST
FOR
POPULISTS
CONSERVATIVES
Political
Parties

14. 2008 ANES Data

15. Degree of Ideological Thinking
2% do not answer
the question
(8% if include
“no preference”)

16. Degree of Ideological Thinking
30% do not answer
the question
(697/2323)

17. Typical Ideological Thinking

18. Typical Ideological Thinking

19. Typical Ideological Thinking

20. Typical Ideological Thinking

21. Typical Ideological Thinking

22. Degree of Ideological Thinking
Research suggests that 25-50% of Americans utilize ideology to organize their thinking
Real problem of “failing to fit” into neat categories

23. Degree of Ideological Thinking

24. Degree of Ideological Thinking
19% are a “very confused” (49% were wrong or NA)

25. Degree of Ideological Thinking
16% are a “very confused” (46% were wrong or NA)

26. Degree of Ideological Thinking
19% are a “very confused” (49% wrong or NA)

27. Degree of Ideological Thinking
17% are a “very confused” (47% were wrong or NA)

28. The End