INTRODUCTION

Four Major Political Ideologies

Most Americans Most Americans are in this are in this rangerange

Liberalism Historically, industrialism brought many problems to society and government intervention was seen as a way of promoting individual development, thus liberals began to support wage and work hour regulation.

Government could be used to liberate people from poverty, oppression, and economic exploitation.

IN SUMMARY

Liberals tend to believe:

Solving problems collectively through government

Programs to provide for the economic well-being of the nation

Non-interventionist foreign policy

Liberals believe that government should be activily involved in the promotion of social welfare of a nation’s citizens; toleranace of various lifestyles

They usually call for peaceful, gradual change within the existing political system.

“ …if by a liberal they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone

who cares about the welfare of the people—their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties—if that is what they mean by a "liberal," then

I am proud to be a liberal."-- John F. Kennedy

Obama to gay group: 'Still laws to change, hearts to open'

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/10/obama.gay.rights/index.html

Healthcare Reform Bill

Thomas Jefferson summed up the noninterventionist foreign policy position perfectly in his 1801 inaugural address: "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations — entangling alliances with none." Washington similarly urged that we must, "Act for ourselves and not for others," by forming an "American character wholly free of foreign attachments

Libertarianism Libertarian views have traditionally been ignored until the last few decades. They tend to embrace the autonomy of the individual and the minimal role of government in both economic and noneconomic spheres. They tend to reject any regulation of private matters of religion, morality, or conscience to the extent that they tend to approve of efforts to legalize drug use and prohibit restrictions of any kind on abortion.

IN SUMMARY

Libertarians believe:

Protection of property rights

Freedom of the individual

No government intervention in the economy

Noninterventionist foreign policy

Reduction in defense spending

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1449-Dallas-Libertarian-Examiner~y2010m4d11-Libertarians-to-Tea-Party-rediscover-your-roots

Thomas Jefferson summed up the noninterventionist foreign policy position perfectly in his 1801 inaugural address: "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations — entangling alliances with none." Washington similarly urged that we must, "Act for ourselves and not for others," by forming an "American character wholly free of foreign attachments."

Conservatism

After the industrial age, conservatism called for government to stay out of economic affairs and allow businesses to follow their own actions. The focus was on what was good for the economy as a whole-the industrial age saw an economic boom in production and trade.

IN SUMMARY

Conservatives believe in:

Reducing spending on social programs

Reduction of taxes to encourage economic growth

Strong military defense; assertive foreign policy

Little action to redress gender and racial discrimination (strong opposition to quotas)

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 ususally hesitant or cautious about adopting new policies, especially if they involve government activism in some way.

They agree with Jefferson’s view that “the best government governs least.”

Tea Party protester Don Miller says the US government should not have so much power. (ABC News: Kim Landers)http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/

2010/04/17/2875479.htm?section=world

Moderates

Moderates may share viewpoints with both liberals and conservatives.

They are seen as tolerant of other people’s views, and they do not hold extreme views of their own.

They advocate a “go-slow” or “wait-and-see” approach to social or political change.

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PopulistsAlso and outgrowth of industrialism. They tend to embrace many of the liberal ideals of private property and individualism-the economic system has not provided those to enough people. Economic intervention is needed on behalf of the common man, not business.

They tend to reject changes in social values and mores that came with industrialization-they want to preserve more traditional social values and are willing to use the government to achieve that purpose.

IN SUMMARY

Populists tend to believe in:

Programs to provide for the economic well-being of small business and common man

Reducing spending on social programs

Reducing taxes to encourage economic growth

A noninterventionist foreign policy

A return to the values of the past

Mistrust of foreign competition

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/us/politics/15poll.html

The Tea Party: Populism of the privileged