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THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM: Red
states, blue states, Green Party and Tea
Party
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT?
• Central question to figuring out political philosophy..
• Friend?
• Foe?
• Frenemy?
Economy, Business and Taxes
FISCAL/ECONOMIC
• What should government’s role be in the Economy? (business, housing, ss, taxes)
Who does a better job ensuring a strong economy?
Govt = Friend- Liberal-Economic Safety Net
and Watch Dog• Spending for public services and direct
assistance
• Taxes OK- espec. For rich and corporations
• Deficit spending- debt OK if needed
• Regulation of business=needed
Govt = Enemy- Conservative-
Free Market is BEST!
• Rely on community/charities
• Low taxes- esp. for “job creators”
• Oppose deficit/debt spending (govt spending what it does not have)
• De-Regulation- let business run their business
Social Norms and Values
SOCIAL VALUES• What should the role of government be in your
lives/families/communities?
• WHO/WHAT SHOULD SET SOCIAL VALUES/NORMS?
Social Values- ex:should folks be able to burn flag in protest?• Government=Friend• More Involvement-Traditional Values -
focus on past, center on family, religion, community norms OVER individual rights
Govt=Enemy• Less Involvement - Progressive Values -
focus on future, center on freedom/choice, individual rights OVER community norms
The Political Spectrum
• This is the traditional spectrum in American politics.
• We read it left to right
Radical• Far left, desiring fundamental or
revolutionary societal change. Emphasizes the needs of the whole vs. the individual
• -- Communism
• --socialism
• --revolution
• --Karl Marx and Malcolm X
Liberal“This land is your land, this land is my land..”
• Economic/Fiscal - Big role- Govt=Friend (Safety Net)– Regulation of Business is good/Need Safety Net– Tax & Spend on Public Services (“our money”)– Social Security, Welfare, Unemployment, Env.
• Social Values - Less Involv – Govt=EnemyProgressive– Focus on individual rights/protections– Evolves with changing standards– Pro Choice, Pro Gay Marriage, Pro gun control, pro
legal drugs
Conservative“Pull yourselves up by your boot straps”
Economic/Fiscal - Small Gov’t- Govt=Enemy (want free market)– Trust business more - little regulation– Little Tax & Little Spend (It’s my money)– Anti-welfare/soc security, pro-business, trickle-down
• Social Values - More Involv. Govt=Friend, Traditional– Gov’t should set community standards– “The good ol’ days”– Pro-Life, Anti Same Sex Marriage, Anti Undoc. Immig.
Reactionary
• Far right- opposes social change; uses complete governmental control to maintain order
• -- Hitler, Mussolini, Franco- Fascism
• --Stalin- authoritarian rule
• --Military in charge
• --law and order w/few personal rights
Libertarian“The best kind of Gov’t is a weak Gov’t”
• Economic/Fiscal – Govt=Enemy (free market)– Lassiez Faire – Anti-Regulation and subsidies– Little or no Tax/ Spend on services– No social security, No gov’t bureaucracies
• Social Values - Less Involv, Govt=Enemy- Progressive– No gov’t involvement in our lives/families/homes– Individual Rights/Freedoms most important– Pro-choice, Support Same Sex Marr., Pro legal drugs,
pro gun rights
Populist
“Gov’t by the masses and for the masses” •Economic - Big Role- Govt=Friend (safety net)
• Anti-Tax, but pro spend on public services• More suspicious of business/wealth than gov’t• Likes social security, benefits, medicare, pro union
Social Values- More Involvement – Govt=Friend, Traditional• Rights, wisdom, virtue of common people• Community standards trump individual rights• Pro-life, Anti-gay marriage, Xenophobic/Nativist tendencies, pro-gun rights
A Note on Foreign Policy
• Populists- isolationists
• Radicals- usually very anti-war, or could be pro-Revolution
• Liberals- limited intervention (diplomacy over intervention
• Conservatives- Active Intervention over diplomacy
• Libertarians- Isolationist
• Populists- Isolationist
A Note on Foreign Policy
• Populists – Isolationist
• Liberals – Limited Intervention (Diplomacy over Military)
• Conservatives – Active Intervention (Military over Diplomacy)
• Libertarians - Isolationist
PLACE THE FOLLOWING IN THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM
• The Obamas• The Bushes • Eastern WA• Shoreline families• Fox News• MSNBC• Donald Trump• “Stephen Colbert”
• Corporate CEO’s• Labor Unions• Ron Paul• Communists• TEA Party•Adolf Hitler•Green Peace environmental group
• Corporate CEO’s• Labor Unions• Ron Paul• Communists• TEA Party•Adolf Hitler•Green Peace environmental group
Civic Mirror Political SpectrumPlace on your chart
• Capitalist
• Socialist
• Fascist
• Conservative
• Liberal
• Environmentalist
• Humanitarian (maybe)
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