PoliticsPolitics

““Radical” liberal Radical” liberal ideasideas

(seen as extreme 250 years ago) (seen as extreme 250 years ago) individual liberty, personal dignity, free individual liberty, personal dignity, free expression, religious tolerance, private expression, religious tolerance, private property, universal human rights, property, universal human rights, transparency of government, limitations transparency of government, limitations on government power, popular on government power, popular sovereignty, national self-sovereignty, national self-determination, privacy, determination, privacy, enlightened/rational policy, the rule of enlightened/rational policy, the rule of law, respect for science, fundamental law, respect for science, fundamental equality, free market economyequality, free market economy

DemocracyDemocracy::where the majority rules with where the majority rules with respect for the rights of the respect for the rights of the

minorityminority

Four justificationsFour justifications

Greatest amount of freedom possible Greatest amount of freedom possible within this systemwithin this system

Responds to the will of the peopleResponds to the will of the people

Encourages individual creativityEncourages individual creativity

Allows for a peaceful and orderly Allows for a peaceful and orderly change of governmentchange of government

In a liberal democratic society you In a liberal democratic society you shouldn’t need a reason to make something shouldn’t need a reason to make something

legal, you should only need a reason to legal, you should only need a reason to make something illegalmake something illegal

Rules to make it Rules to make it workwork

All people rule in all aspects; all public All people rule in all aspects; all public decisions would be made by all citizensdecisions would be made by all citizens

Majority rules with all being equal Majority rules with all being equal (politically and legally; one man – one vote)(politically and legally; one man – one vote)

A method of communication is established A method of communication is established and an exchange of information is allowed, and an exchange of information is allowed, people are educatedpeople are educated

Problem – there is a lack of time, interest Problem – there is a lack of time, interest and information for all people to be involvedand information for all people to be involved

Representative Representative DemocracyDemocracy

Only one decision needs to be made: choosing Only one decision needs to be made: choosing a representative (who has the time to be a representative (who has the time to be

more informed and should have more more informed and should have more interest)interest)

8 Techniques8 TechniquesRepresentation by Representation by populationpopulation: each vote has equal : each vote has equal worth because each representative has a worth because each representative has a fairly equal number of constituentsfairly equal number of constituents

Periodic electionsPeriodic elections: intervals are : intervals are stated with some defined guidelinesstated with some defined guidelines

Secret ballotSecret ballot: punishment for voting : punishment for voting against the majority is eliminatedagainst the majority is eliminated

Independent courtsIndependent courts: protection : protection against majority tyrannyagainst majority tyranny

8 Techniques, cont.8 Techniques, cont.Power of the pursePower of the purse: access to : access to funds are eliminated if there is funds are eliminated if there is disapprovaldisapproval

Political partiesPolitical parties: opposition : opposition parties represent the voices of the parties represent the voices of the minorityminority

Interest groupsInterest groups: they lobby the : they lobby the government in regards to a specific issue government in regards to a specific issue (voice concerns between elections and of (voice concerns between elections and of the minority)the minority)

Free pressFree press: inform the public, can : inform the public, can be the voice of the minoritybe the voice of the minority

DisadvantagesDisadvantagesTyranny of the majority – minority Tyranny of the majority – minority rights are not protected (50% + 1)rights are not protected (50% + 1)

Inefficiency of decision making and Inefficiency of decision making and pluralism – slow to make decisions and pluralism – slow to make decisions and keep up with dynamic worldkeep up with dynamic world

Elite groups – few leaders gather power Elite groups – few leaders gather power and lose touch with the rest of society and lose touch with the rest of society (can include politicians, wealthy elite, (can include politicians, wealthy elite, interest groups)interest groups)

Uninterested electorateUninterested electorate

BureaucracyBureaucracy

Canadian Electoral Ridings – equal representation?

The Department of Homeland Security Organizational Chart

Lobby Lobby groups/elite rulegroups/elite rule

Power of mediaPower of media

I make my living off the Evening News; Just give me I make my living off the Evening News; Just give me something, something I can use. People love it when you something, something I can use. People love it when you lose, They love dirty laundry.lose, They love dirty laundry.Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here.I just Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here.I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear. Come and have to look good, I don't have to be clear. Come and whisper in my ear. Give us dirty laundry whisper in my ear. Give us dirty laundry Kick 'em when they're up Kick 'em when they're up Kick 'em when they're down Kick 'em when they're down Kick 'em when they're up Kick 'em when they're up We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who comes on at We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who comes on at five. She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam in five. She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam in her eye. It's interesting when people die- Give us dirty her eye. It's interesting when people die- Give us dirty laundry laundry Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet? You Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet? You know, the boys in the newsroom got a running bet.Get the know, the boys in the newsroom got a running bet.Get the widow on the set! We need dirty laundry widow on the set! We need dirty laundry You don't really need to find out what's going on. You You don't really need to find out what's going on. You don't really want to know just how far it's gone. Just leave don't really want to know just how far it's gone. Just leave well enough alone. Eat your dirty laundry.well enough alone. Eat your dirty laundry.Dirty little secrets. Dirty little lies. We got our dirty little Dirty little secrets. Dirty little lies. We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie. We love to cut you down to fingers in everybody's pie. We love to cut you down to size. We love dirty laundry size. We love dirty laundry We can do "The Innuendo”. We can dance and sing. When We can do "The Innuendo”. We can dance and sing. When it's said and done we haven't told you a thing. We all know it's said and done we haven't told you a thing. We all know that Crap is King. Give us dirty laundry! that Crap is King. Give us dirty laundry!

Stop and reflect – Stop and reflect – journal entryjournal entry

How do each of the eight techniques How do each of the eight techniques protect minoritiesprotect minorities

How does the protection of minorities How does the protection of minorities ensure the promotion of liberal ensure the promotion of liberal democratic values?democratic values?