The Political Spectrum

And now for your enjoyment….

Funnies of the day…

Another one…

And yet, another…

And because you love survey so much…. another

Radicals

• Man are by nature, good and cooperative.• Focused on the idea of the perfect society.• Government can become corrupt and should never

infringe on the rights of individuals• Concerned with equality• Willing to resort to violence or breaking the law to

achieve goals

LiberalsPart of our system

• Capitalism is best but needs some reforms• Human rights over property right• Government should help those who cannot• Reform should take moderate means• Need a large federal government• Belief in Free speech• All rights for all people should be protected• Need government regulations• “Left Wing”

ModeratesMade up of both Republicans and Democrats

• More concerned about compromise• Tend to agree with issues of both liberals and

Conservatives• Tend to find Political candidates from this area• Can be criticized for not doing enough at times

ConservativePart of our system

• Society represents accumulated wisdom and presents a proven formula

• Status Quo• Legitimate authority is needed• Oppose strong central government• Favors state rights• Good of majority over the minority• Favors cutting government programs• Should protect economic interests• “Right Wing”

ReactionaryFascism

• The ideas of the past are the correct ones which we should restore today.

• Communism is a direct threat to our society• Willing to use any means necessary to achieve

goals – violence or breaking laws

Other Terms

• Socialist – man is a cooperative being who is willing to work with others in a communal effort. The purpose of society is not to make a profit rather it is to eliminate poverty.

• Pragmatist – When a problem is present, it is to be solved. What ever solution works best for the particular problem should be used.

There is NO party here.• The One-Party system

– Exists in most dictatorships.

– The government is simply an instrument of the party

• Truly a no party system.

• Ex. China

It’s my party (or lack thereof),

And I’ll cry if I want to.

So many parties, so little time.

• Multi-Party System• Many parties based on religion,

economic class, sectional attachment, or political ideology.

• Unstable Coalitions must be formed.

• ex. Germany (MOST European democracies)

Why is my date book so empty?

• The two-party system.– Two dominant political

parties control most elections. Minor parties, if they exist get little or no portion of the electorate.

The Two-Party System

What does it look like for us?

What do Parties Do?• Nominate—Recruit, choose, and present

candidates for public office.

• Inform and Activate Supporters—Campaign, define issues, and criticize other candidates.

• Act as a Bonding Agent—Guarantee that their candidate is worthy of the office.

•Republican– Free (private)

Enterprise– Prove to us that

Government can do it better • Democrat

– Government– Prove that

private industry can do it better

Philosophy

• Republicans– Conservative

• Cautious about change.

• Democrats– Liberal

•Promote policies that represent new approaches.

Support• Republicans

– “Well-off”• Don’t fix what

isn’t broken.

• Democrats–The Worker

•Change can only make things better. No success in the status-quo.

How do you think this may be different than 2004?

What about this election in 2008?

2004

The Reality is not so black and white… or red and blue!

Reasons for Party Decline

Independents• Mistrust of Government• “Open” Primaries• Technology• End of Patronage• All of the above leads to…• Electoral Independence!!

What is a Political Platform?

• States the main ideas of the party

• Explains why it was started, stance on main issues and current agenda

Party Platform Differences

• The Political Parties are NOT the same. They are supported by different types of people who feel differently on issues. Bills in Congress reflect party-line voting at least 90% of the time! If there wasn’t a “dimes worth of difference” between the parties, this would not be the case.

Minor Parties in the

United States

Splinter Party

Example: “Bull Moose” Progressive

Party-against patronage system

Economic Protest Parties

Example: The Greenback Party-

against gov’t regulation of $

Ideological Parties

Example: Libertarian

Party-rights of the individual

Types of Minor Parties

Single-issue Parties

Example: Free Soil Party-eliminate slavery

Party Types

• Factional (splinter) Parties– Bull Moose, Reform

• Ideological Parties– Libertarian, Communist

• Single-Issue– Free Soil, Prohibition

• Toga Parties• Power Parties

– Democrats, Republicans

Minor Parties in the United StatesMinor Parties in the United States

Why are Minor Parties important?

Minor parties play several important roles:

“Spoiler Role”

Critic

Innovator

The Three Components of the Party

The Party in the Electorate

Those who always or almost always vote

for party candidates.

The Party Organization:

Those who run and control the party

machinery.

Party Components

The Party in Government

Those who hold office in the government.

More on the Future…

For candidates: • Structural changes have increased conflict and

disorganization within parties• Changes in the technology of campaigning,

especially the use of television and the Internet, have made candidates more independent of the party organization

• The growth of single-issue organizations provides candidates with another source of financial support