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)