Politics: Who Gets What and How

1. AP American Government and Politics Politics: Who Gets What and How By Michael Miguel Academy of Our Lady of Guam

2. What is at stake? • Is young people’s political involvement really such a big deal, or is concern about keeping the republic just an idiosyncrasy of long deceased founders and hyperactive political science professors? What is really at stake for American democracy in the issue of youthful engagement in the political system?

3. What is Politics? • Election 2012: Obama vs. Romney • Politics: Determining without recourse to violence, who gets power and resources in society and how they got them • Power vs. Authority • “We are political animals and we are destined to remain” – Aristotle

4. Why Government? Functions Politics in Government • Provides order: Rules and Institutions • Provides Public Goods • Promotes Equality • Politics is a process in which resources are gained a/o lost • Government is a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people • “Life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” - Thomas Hobbes, 17th Century English Philosopher

5. Dimensions of Politics and Economics Capitalism Socialism • Pure Capitalist Economy • Regulated Capitalism • Social Democracy • Socialism

6. The tension between order and Freedom How can government provide complete order? How can government provide complete freedom? • 1984 – Brave New World • Soviet Union • North Korea • Martial Law • Anarchy • Garden of Eden • Lord of the Flies • Post Saddam Iraq • Post Katrina • “State of Nature”

7. Chart More Government Control of the economy(substantive guarantees) Less Government Control of the economy (procedural guarantees) Socialism Complete government ownership and control Ex. China, North Korea, Cuba, Former Soviet Union Laissez-Faire Capitalism Private ownership and no government control Ex. None Social Democracy Mostly private ownership but extensive government control Ex. Sweden Norway Regulated Capitalism Private ownership and some government control Ex. Britain, U.S.

8. Political systems and the Concept of Citizenship Authoritarian Systems Non-Authoritarian Systems • Monarchy • Theocracy • Fascist • Oligarchy • Totalitarian • Authoritarian capitalism • Anarchy • Democracy

9. Democratic Government…What does it really mean? • True Democracy – All people have a say in elections • “The problem with a government of the people, for the people, and people is….have you seen some of these people?” – Maine

10. Theories of Democracy Elite Democracy Pluralist Democracy Elections merely symbolic Not as much about individual participation as it is about membership in groups that participate in government Participatory Democracy Individuals have the right to control all circumstances of their lives Advanced Industrial Democracy Personal freedom w/i a free market economy Communist Democracy Embracing personal freedom and a collectively owned economy

11. Chart: Political and Economic Systems Less government control over individual lives and the social order Advanced Industrial Democracy Communist Democracy Personal freedom within a free-market economy (although usually with some government regulations) Marx’s hope for a system embracing personal freedom and a collectively owned economy Less government control of the economy More government control of the economy Authoritarian Capitalism Totalitarian System Government allows market economy but highly regulates individual behavior More government control over individual lives and the social order Government controls all economy and individual behavior (Former SU, North Korea, China)

12. Origins of Democracy in America The Ancient Greek Experience Politics in the Middle Ages • 500-600 BCE • 1/10th of population defined as citizens • Parallels to American Democracy • Restricted participation to political affairs • 600-1500 AD • Participation very limited • Dominated by Monarchies, Divine Right of the Kong

13. Origins of Democracy in America The Protestant Reformation Enlightenment • 1500-1700 • More participation than in Middle Ages • Individual spirituality and connection to God • Calvinist ideals • Martin Luther • Church seen as unnecessary – paves way for new ideas • Focus on human reason • Thomas Hobbes • John Locke

14. Social Contract Theory • Freedom and rights existed before Government • Thomas Jefferson (based on John Locke’s principles) • We, as citizens, enter into an agreement with the government allowing it to create rules that set boundaries for our behavior and protect our life, liberty, and property. • If the gov’t goes too far w/ that power, we as citizens can dissolve that government.

15. Democracy and Citizenship in America Dangers in Democracy Madison’s vision of citizenship • Founders rejected idea of a pure democracy • Opted instead for a Republic • Safe than direct representation • Very low expectation for the average American citizen • Republican Virtue no longer common after independence • Hoped representatives would be wiser than the average American

16. Who rules when the People Disagree? Majoritarian Model Pluralist Model • Rule of the majority • Elections • How can we protect minority rights? • Tyranny of the majority • There isn’t “the public” • Many minority groups of people – melting pot • “The Public” as groups • Racial • Religious • Ethnic • Gender • Professional • Regional • Urban • Rural

17. Who Should Make decisions? • Apathetic majority? • Passionate minority? • Why let the majority decide? • It does not care • It does not have expertise • Pluralism – no one group in control

18. A Christian perspective • Orderly • Freedom • Land was plentiful; not scarce • Fall of Mankind  State of Nature • By God’s Grace, still some order • Romans 13: 1, 4

19. Recap • 2 Tensions in American government • Order vs. Freedom • Majority Rule vs. Minority Rights • Majortitarian Model vs. Pluralist Democracy