PUBLIC OPINION AND POLITICAL ACTION (THE AMERICAN PEOPLE)

Warm up: What are the two sides to the juxtaposition of popularity and leadership/decision making?

“We live in a society obsessed with public opinion. But leadership has never been about

popularity.”-Marco Rubio

Introduction• Public Opinion– The distribution of the

population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues

• Demography– The science of population

changes.• Census– A valuable tool for

understanding population changes- required every 10 years.

– 2010 Census (1:35):– https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=bDB8N9DIu9Y

The American People by Ethnicity

The American People• Political Culture– An overall set of values

widely shared within a society.

• American Values– Liberty– Majority Rule (minority

rights) a– Limited Government– Civic Duty– Private Property and

Capitalism– Equality

Which party will benefit from the minority majority?

The American People• The Regional Shift– Reapportionment

• The process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census.

• 435 members (1911)– Redistricting is done by

state legislatures.• Gerrymandering - The

drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent.

Daily Goal: I can explain the different ideologies present in American politics and they are acquired.

Review• What is demography? What are some

examples of different demographics?• What is the importance of the Census?• What shifts in demographics are currently

occurring in our country?• What is a political culture?• What values do Americans hold firm?

Gerrymandering• Purpose– Packing (concentrate voters with similar voting tendencies)– Cracking (split opposition into multiple districts to reduce influence)– Hijacking (separating an incumbent from supporters)– Kidnapping (putting two incumbents against each other)

• Consequences– Malapportionment - districts of unequal size

• Influential Gerrymandering cases– Baker v. Carr (1962)

• Federal courts can review redistricting– Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)

• Districts must be proportionate to population– Reynolds v. Sims (1964)

• All districts must have same population– Shaw v. Reno (1993)

• Redistricting by race must be handled with scrutiny under the equal protection clause

What Americans Value• Political Ideology– A coherent set of

beliefs about politics, economics, public policy, and public purpose.

– A consistent set of political beliefs

• Political ideologies may change over time

How Americans Learn About Politics• Political Socialization– the process through which an

individual acquires his or her political orientation

• The Process of Political Socialization–The Family (primary way and number one influence)• Time & emotional

commitment• Political leanings of

children often mirror their parent’s leanings (60% chance to be like parents)

Political Socialization (continued)• The Mass Media– Influences what issues are important (in their view)– Play mostly short sound bites, not much platform– Generation gap in TV news viewing

• School / Education– Used by government to socialize the young into the culture and

government (tends to make students more liberal)

• Religion– Catholics and Jews suffered discrimination• Democrats appealed to them and gained their support

– Evangelical protestants emphasize personal salvation therefore more conservative in social policies

Political Socialization (continued)• Region– New England - more liberal– Southeast/Bible Belt - more

conservative– Midwest - more

conservative– Pacific - more liberal– Urban - more

liberal/Democratic– Suburbs/small towns - more

conservative– Rural - more

conservative/Republican

Representatives and Religious

Affiliation

The American Political Continuum

Radical

Liberal

Moderate Libertarian

Conservative

Political Ideologies• Radical

– Rapid fundamental changes; extreme methods such as revolution

• Liberal– Supports political and social reforms; government regulations; minority

support; equality

• Moderate– More tolerant; shares liberal and conservative beliefs

• Conservative– Support social and economic status quo; reluctant for change, and only

gradual change; less government; liberty

• Reactionary– Return to previous or historical system; extreme methods for

accomplishment

Demographics and Ideology• The Republican Party

Coalition– Rural voters/farmers– White males– Business owners– Conservative Christians– College Educated

• The Democratic Party Coalition– Urban dwellers– Union members– Hispanics and African

Americans– High School Diploma– Advanced Degree

• The Gender Gap– Women vote for the Democratic candidates at higher

rates than Republican candidates.

Political Ideologies Based on Personal and Economics Issues

• Pure Liberal– Economic regulation, ensure individual liberties– Tend to be young, college-educated, Jewish or secular

• Pure Conservative– No economic regulation, regulate morality– Tend to be older, high incomes, white, Midwest

• Libertarians– No economic regulation, ensure individual liberties– Tend to be young, college-educated, white, higher incomes, secular, West

• Populists– Economic regulation, regulate morality– Tend to be older, poor education, low-income, religious, female,

South/Midwest

Political Identity

The American People• The Graying of America– Fastest growing group is over

65– Potential drain on Social

Security by 2020• Why?

– “Gray Power”– What is one advantage that

no other group has besides old people?• we are all going to get older

• Entitlements have been the fastest growing portion of the federal budget since the 1960s

Political IdeologiesA few examples:

• Liberals– More domestic

spending (social security, education, Medicare/ACA)

– Pro-choice– Favor affirmative action– Favor progressive

taxation– Pro gay marriage

• Conservatives– More military spending– Pro-life– Oppose affirmative

action– Keep taxes low– Support traditional

marriage

What Do You Believe? Your Philosophy?• Is the death penalty inhumane or a

deterrent?• Are you pro-choice or pro-life?• Do you believe prayer in public school

shouldn’t be allowed or should be as long as no one is forced to participate?

• Is global warming man-made or a natural cycle?

• Should we have gun rights or gun controls?• Do believe in free trade or fair trade?• Do you believe in equal opportunity or

equal outcomes?• Should we have a large federal government

to enforce civil liberties or should we allow for states’ rights?

• Should healthcare be single payer or up to the free market?

• Should taxes be minimal on all groups or should we tax those with the means to pay?

• Should immigration be based on blood or skills?

• Should affirmative action be used to make up for past wrongs?

• Should we downsize our military or keep it the size that ensures protection from abroad?

• Should we tax & regulate coal, oil, and natural gas while we subsidize alternative energies or let the markets function?

• Do you believe in American exceptionalism (America is the best country with a culture that is superior to what the world has ever known)?

• Should the government take a role in stimulating the economy during economic downturns or just let it be?

• Should the federal government determine same-sex marriage or should the states?

• Should social security remain as a government safety net or should it be privatized?

• Should the government regulate our economy or allow for the free market?

• Do you believe “white privilege” exists?

ISSUE LIBERAL CONSERVATIVEScope of Government Large government to enforce liberties and

equalityLimited government; states’ rights

Taxes Increase for businesses and upper-class Tax cuts for businesses and all classes

Government Spending Increase to stimulate economy Decrease to avoid debt; austerity policies

Defense Spending and Military Decrease bureaucracy and spending Increase for national security

Affirmative Action Support and expand Reduce or eliminate; “reverse racism”

Abortion Pro-choice; include as part of health care Pro-life; allowed only in cases of rape, incest, health of mother

Economy Increased regulation; support Federal Reserve

Free enterprise and free market economy

Global Warming Man-made consequence Natural global cycle

Same-Sex Marriage Support equality of marriage Marriage between a man and woman; states decide

Global Affairs Support the United Nations American exceptionalism

Energy Alternative and cleaner resources Subsidies for natural gas, oil, coal

Social Security Preserve the safety net Needs reform; privatization

Health Care Government-controlled low-cost care; single-payer option

Free market and private-run health care

Death Penalty Inhumane Crime deterrent

Immigration Easier path to citizenship; multicultural Secure the borders; English at official language

Prayer in Schools Violates separation of church and state; secular government

Official practice; teach intelligent design

Global Market Fair trade Free trade

2nd Amendment (Right to bear arms) Gun control Gun rights

Equality Fair chance Equal opportunity