Chapter 1: Freedom, Order or Equality

Warm Up (Daily Dilemma): DD1 Which is better, to live under a government that

protects individual freedom or under one that infringes on freedom while guarding

against threats to security? -Hamdi case

DD#2

Which is better: to let all citizens keep the same share of their income or to tax the wealthy at a higher rate?

The Great Recession

• In 2009 the unemployment rate was at 10.2% (and 17.3% counting people who had given up looking for work).

• More than ½ of all unemployed workers borrowed money from friends or relatives & 60% drew down their savings accounts

What should governments do to end such intense economic downturns?

The Globalization of American Government

•Governments are instituted to control human behavior. •In the past, governments generally have recognized national sovereignty, which means governments have the right to rule its territory as it sees fit, without the intrusion of other governments and institutions.

•As we have become more of a global society, governments and institutions have become increasingly involved in the actions of other nations.

• National sovereignty is threatened under globalization because of the pressure for international law to govern behavior

• Human rights are an area that has drawn such attention.

• “Protection of human rights must ‘take precedence over concerns of state sovereignty.’” Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations

• How has this shift impacted our national sovereignty? – U.S. pulling out of the International Criminal Court

treaty– Concern that U.S. soldiers abroad may be arrested and

tried in such a court.– U.S. is being pressured to eliminate the death penalty.

• The U.S. has strong economic, political and social ties to countries throughout the world, should this be taken into consideration when making policy decisions here in the United States?

The Purpose of Government

• All governments require individuals to give up some level of freedom in order to receive the benefits provided by government.

• There are three basic purposes of

government:– Maintaining Order– Providing Public Goods– Promoting Equality

The Purpose of Government

• Maintaining Order is the first role of governments, it can be accomplished in 3 ways:– Establishing the rule of law to preserve life

• Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679)– Believed that without government life would be “solitary, poor,

nasty, brutish, and short.”– Saw a strong, single sovereign as the only way to maintain order.– Authoritarian rule– Preserving Private Property

The Purpose of Government

• John Locke (1632 – 1704)– Protection of “life, liberty, and property” is the main

objective of government.– Where have we heard that before??– Preserving Property for All

• Karl Marx (1818-1883)– Communism – “from each, according to their ability,

to each, according to their need.”– Ownership of all land and productive facilities Is given

to “the people” (i.e. the government)

The Purpose of Government

• Once order is established, governments can begin to provide public goods.– Governments must tax citizens to provide public

goods.– Public goods benefit all members of a society, but

are not usually provided by private citizens.

What are some examples of public goods?

The Purpose of Government

• Promoting Equality is a controversial role of governments– Came about in the 20th century, after industrialization and

urbanization.– Idea of the Welfare State emerged in Europe– Guaranteed income, “from the cradle to the grave.”– Should the government redistribute income?

• Social equality can also be promoted by government by passing such laws as:– Civil Rights– Affirmative Action

A Conceptual Framework…

• Our text offers five concepts through which to study government.

GOALS OF GOVERNMENT- what the gov’t tries to do:– Freedom– Order– Equality

HOW DEMOCRACIES TRY TO DO IT:– Majoritarian Democracy– Pluralist Democracy

The Concepts of Freedom, Order and Equality• Freedom can be broken down into

two senses:• “Freedom of,” which includes:

• The absence of constraints• Freedom of religion,

freedom of speech• Liberty

• “Freedom from,” which includes:• Immunity from something• Freedom from fear and

want• Equality

When “freedom” is used by the authors, it will generally refer to “freedom of.”

Order

• Order, as defined by the textbook, includes– Preserving life– Protecting property– Maintaining traditional patterns of social

relationships• Order is maintained through the government’s police power.

Equality

• Equality is also broken down into more specific senses:– Political equality

• One person = one vote

• Does a persons influence and access make them “more equal?”

• Social equality– Do people need to be equal in wealth, education and status

in order to achieve political equality?• Two routes to social equality

• Equality of opportunity• Equality of outcome

Two Dilemmas of Government

1. Freedom vs. Order

How much freedom are you willing to give up in order to ensure a safe and orderly society?

How much order are you willing to give up in order to ensure your freedoms?

This American Life episode

2. Freedom vs. Equality• The Equal Pay Act requiring employers to pay

women and men the same rate for equal work– Employers are forced to pay more than they would

if their pay was based on free choice• Bussing of schoolchildren to achieve a fair

distribution of blacks and whites in schools– Impaired freedom of choice for educational

equality

When forced to choose, Americans are more likely to choose freedom over equality

Ideology and Government

ECONOMIC THEORIESSocialism Capitalism

Laissez Faire

POLITICAL THEORIESTotalitarianism Libertarianism Anarchism

Most Government Least Government

AMERICAN SYSTEMLiberals Conservatives

Political Theories

• Totalitarianism:– Government should have unlimited power in all areas.

• Libertarianism– Government’s role is only to protect life and property.– Laissez faire economics – leave it be

• Anarchism– Government is unnecessary.

• Values freedom above all else.

Economic Theories

• Socialism:– An economic system based on Marx’s ideas. Government has

significant control over the economy, usually owns or controls, at least, the basic industries.

• Democratic Socialism– Countries allow civil liberties, free elections and political parties

• Capitalism– Free Enterprise – Limited or no government interference in business

The American System

Liberals and Conservatives

• Liberals– Purpose of government should be to protect

equality, but not order

• Conservative– Purpose of government is to enforce order rather

than equality.

Section 3: A Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Gov’t

•A Two-Dimensional Classification of Ideologies

Conservatives

Freedom over EqualityOrder over Freedom

Libertarians

Freedom over EqualityFreedom over Order

Communitarians

Order over FreedomEquality over Freedom

Liberals

Freedom over OrderEquality over Freedom

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Freedom Order

DD #3

What is more “equal,” equality of opportunity or equality of outcome?

Why does equality of outcome show the dilemma of equality vs. freedom?