The Political Spectrum

1. The Political Spectrum Where do you stand? Adapted from CyberlearningWorld.com: http://www.cyberlearning-world.com/lessons/civics/electoral_process.htm

2. Political Views • Many factors shape political beliefs, two major factors are… • 1st: how much change a person is willing to have • 2nd: how much government involvement a person is willing to have.

3. This arrow is our Political Spectrum Continuum

4. What is a Continuum? • A person’s views on the issues help determine where they fall on the political spectrum. • The labels used on the spectrum are not pure categories, but they make up a continuum, or value line, and citizens and politicians fall somewhere on that line depending on what they believe. • People Graph

5. What is a Radical? • Seen as being on the far left of the political spectrum, radicals call for wide-sweeping rapid change in the basic structure of the political, social, or economic system. • They may be willing to resort to extreme methods to bring about change, including the use of violence and revolution. V.I. Lenin: Mastermind of the Russian Revolution and Father of the Soviet Union

6. Radical

7. What is a Liberal? • Liberals believe that the government should be actively involved in the promotion of social welfare of a nation’s citizens- which means to help make sure everyone has basic necessities. • They usually call for peacefuland gradual change within the existing political system. • They reject violent revolution as a way of changing the way things are, often called the status quo. lifeondoverbeach.wordpress.com Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King

8. Radical Liberal

9. What is a Moderate? • Moderates may share viewpoints with both liberals and conservatives. • They are seen as tolerant, which means accepting of other people’s views, and they do not hold extreme views of their own. • When you think Moderates, think Middle! • They advocate a “go-slow” or “wait-and-see” approach to social or political change. Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) is generally seen as a moderate.

10. Radical Liberal Moderate

11. What is a Conservative? • People who hold conservative ideals favor keeping things the way they are or maintaining the status quo if it is what they desire. • Conservatives are usually hesitant or cautious or don’t want to adopt new policies, especially if they involve government activism in some way. • They feel that smaller government is better. • They agree with Jefferson’s view that “the best government governs least.” Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) is widely regarded as the father of the modern conservative movement

12. Radical Liberal Moderate Conservative

13. What is a Reactionary? • Sitting on the far right of the ideological spectrum, reactionaries want to go back to the way things were—the “good ol’ days.” • Often reactionaries are willing to use extreme methods, such as repressive use of government power, to achieve their goals. Hitler’s Mein Kampf is a typical reactionary manifesto

14. The Left The Right Radical Reactionary Liberal Moderate Conservative

15. Remember, this is a spectrum! • The labels used on the spectrum are not pure categories, but they make up a continuum, or value line, and citizens and politicians fall somewhere on that line depending on what they believe.

16. Political Parties

17. It’s a Party… • …but not the kind with ice cream and cake (usually). • Political parties are groups of people who share similar beliefs about how the government should be run and how the issues facing our country should be solved. • By organizing into political parties, people have more power to make their voices heard than they would have if they acted alone. • Political parties are powerful organizations that fight to get the government to act in ways the political party believes is best. • Political parties are organized at every level of government, from the national level right down to your own neighborhood.

18. The Party Platform • To get other people to join their parties, • Political parties take the complicated issues we hear about every day and create easy-to-understand statements that describe the party’s views about those issues. • This set of statements is called the party’s platformbecause it is what the political party stands on. • The ultimate goal of political parties is to get their candidates elected to office. Once in office, the elected official can create policy that supports the party’s platform.

19. Party Time! • We have two major parties in the U.S.- Democrats and Republicans. • Most people in the U.S. fall somewhere in the middle. • Each party has a different stance on lots of different issues, but for the most part, • Democrats fall on the left hand side of the spectrum • Republicans fall on the right hand side • Again, Democrats are on the Left and Republicans are on the Right!

20. Democrats Republicans The Left The Right Reactionary Radical Liberal Moderate Conservative

21. Political Labels People choose their political party for lots of different reasons. • social reasons which are people-related reasons • economic reasons which are money-relatedreasons • political which are government-related reasons.

22. Democrats Source http://www.icivics.org/teachers/lesson-plans/one-big-party • The Democratic Party is concerned with equality, cooperation, and social progress. • Supporters of this party are more likely to be concerned with • civil rights issues, • stronger government regulation for businesses, • and social support networks for those in need of assistance. (helping the poor and unemployed) • Democrats are more likely to believe that the federal government has a responsibility to be involved in solving problems. • Democrats are represented by a Donkey.

23. Republicans Source http://www.icivics.org/teachers/lesson-plans/one-big-party • The Republican Party and its supporters want the government to spend less money and have less of a say in business and society. • Most Republicans believe people and businesses should have the liberty to do what they want without much government interference. • This party also tends to believe the government should protect traditional social values. • Often referred to as the G.O.P. for “Grand Old Party,” and are represented by an elephant.

24. Democrats Platform • Where Democrats Stand on… • Environment: The environment is very important and it should be protected and kept clean. • Health Care: The government should help make healthcare available to those who can’t afford it. • Energy: The U.S. should focus on renewable energy sources to achieve independence. • Education: The government should support teachers and public school funding to make public schools better • Economy: During hard times, the government should help create jobs.

25. Republicans Platform • Where Republicans stand on… • Defense: Keep peace by having a strong military • Health Care: The government should not pay for peoples’ health care • Energy: The U.S. should rely on oil as well as renewable sources to be independent • Education: Schools must have high standards, and students should be able to use public education funds to attend private schools if those schools are better than public schools • Economy: Businesses will create jobs and opportunities for people to prosper

26. Political Parties Rap • http://smartsongs.org/political-parties-rap

27. Now, let’s see where you fell on the political spectrum with these issues

31. Now, let’s see if we can place these statements on the political spectrum • The government should take strong action to solve society’s problems • Far LEFT • Government should pay for government-run programs to help people • Center LEFT • The Government should encourage people and businesses to solve society’s problems • Center RIGHT • The government should not get involved in solving society’s problems—far right • Far RIGHT

32. Now, let’s see if we can place these statements on the political spectrum • The government should leave people and businesses alone to do what they want to do. • Far RIGHT • Offer tax breaks to people and businesses who do good things or stop doing harmful or unfair things • Center RIGHT • Pass laws to keep business from doing harmful or unfair things • Center LEFT • The government should regulate people and businesses to promote the common good on all issues. • Far LEFT

33. The Political Spectrum Democrats Republicans Tea Party

34. Left or Right? Read each proposed government action. Would it be supported by people on the left or the right? How far to the left or the right? Or is it a moderate plan? Place an X where you think the proposed government action lies on the political spectrum.

35. American Politicians on the Spectrum • Here is how one website places important American political figures on the spectrum. • Notice this continuum is between liberal and conservative.