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Overview• The United States
fought a revolutionary war against Britain, defeating a monarchy and establishing a republic (representative democracy)
• Political developments reflect cultural history and capitalist economy
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George Washington
U.S. Culture and the Rise of the Welfare State
• The U.S. political culture is based on individualism
• Found in Bill of Rights– Freedom from undue
government interference
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U.S. Culture and the Rise of the welfare State
• Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The government that governs best is the government that governs least”
• In recent years, government has increased in size and influence
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Ralph Waldo Emerson
U.S. Culture and the Rise of the Welfare State
• The U.S. has evolved into a welfare state• Welfare State: a system of government
agencies and programs that provides benefits to the population
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U.S Culture and the Rise of the Welfare State
• Government programs begin before birth and during old age– Prenatal programs– Social Security and Medicare
• Some programs important to the poor• Students, farmers, homeowners, small
businesses, veterans, performing arts, and executives of corporations are said to get help
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U.S. Culture and the Rise of the Welfare State
• A majority of adults look to government for part of their income—according to the text
• However, government doesn’t have any money
• What??
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U.S. Culture and the Rise of the Welfare State
• Government takes our money and redistributes it to people they want to redistribute it to
• Our money is taken in the form of taxes and “at the point of a gun” (try not paying taxes)
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U.S. Culture and the Rise of the Welfare State
• In 1789, the entire American budget was $4.5 million – $1.50 for each person in America
• In 2006, the budget is $2.7 trillion– $9,000 for each person
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U.S. Culture and the Rise of the Welfare State
• At the founding of our nation, one government employee served 1,800 citizens
• Today, one in six workers is a government employee—more people than engaged in manufacturing
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U.S. Culture and the Rise of the Welfare State
• As a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), (36.6%) the U.S. welfare state is still smaller than other high-income nations– E.G. Denmark, Sweden,
etc
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The Political Spectrum
• Some people want to expand the welfare state while others want to reduce it– The political spectrum encompasses beliefs that
range from extremely liberal “on the left” to extremely conservative “on the right”
– Generally, liberals want to expand it while conservatives what to reduce it
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The Political Spectrum
• 25% are left wing• 33% are right win• 40% are moderates• Two issues on the
spectrum– Economic issues focus
on economic inequality– Social issues involve how
people should live
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Economic Issues
Liberals• Support extensive
government regulation of the economy
• Generally, larger welfare state
• Reduce income inequality• Tax the “rich” more• More government
Conservatives• Limit government influence
in the economy• Allow market forces more
freedom• Freedom produces more
jobs and makes economy more productive
• Cut taxes across the board• Less government
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Social Issues Liberals• Support equal rights• Abortion is a choice• Oppose the death penalty• Support gay marriage• Supports Affirmative Action
programs• For comprehensive
immigration policy (including amnesty)
• More gun control
Conservatives• Support equal rights• Anti-abortion• Support the death penalty• Against gay marriage• Against Affirmative Action
programs• Against comprehensive
immigration policy (against amnesty)
• Support for 2nd amendment
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Social Issues
Democrats• More liberal on economic
and social issues• Has a conservative wing
Republicans• More conservative on
economic and social issues• Has a liberal wing
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Class, Race, and Gender
Wealthy• Economic conservatives• Social liberals
Low Income• Economic liberals• Social conservatives
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Class, Race, and Gender
African Americans• More liberal, both rich and
poor • Vote mostly Democratic
(almost 90%)
Whites• More men vote
conservatively and therefore for Republicans
• More women vote liberally and therefore for Democrats
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Class, Race, and Gender
• Latinos, Asian Americans, and Jews have supported Democrats
• College women vote more liberally than college men
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President Kennedy
Party Identification
Democrats• 44% • 16% strong Democrats
Republicans• 38%• 14% strong Republicans
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Party Identification• 18% call themselves independents– Results in gains and losses for both parties
depending on the year– Democrats had White House in 1992 and 1996--
gained congressional seats in 1996, 1998, 2000– Republicans made gains in 2002 and 2004 in
congress and kept the White House – In 2006, Democrats gained control of congress
and promised the “most honest and open congress in history”
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Party Identification
• Urban areas generally vote Democrat• Rural areas generally vote Republican• In 2004, President Bush won 80% of the
counties and 51% of the popular vote to Senator Kerry’s 20% and 48%, respectively
• Reference the special reading on “The Rural-Urban Divide: Election 2004”
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Special Interest Groups• Special-interest group:
people organized to address some economic or social issues
• Are special interests controlling most of the country and most states, e.g. environmentalists vs drilling for oil?
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Special Interest Groups
• Unions– Teachers– Truckers– Steel Workers– Garment– Automotive
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Special Interest Groups
• Environment groups particularly unmoving and not willing to negotiate– Oil drilling– Millions of African children dying because of
malaria• But the answer is the use of DDT—banned by Rachel
Carson years ago—OK for humans, but deadly to the mosquito that carries the virus• Senator Obama has always spoken about malaria
problem in Africa—Dear Senator, it’s called DDT.
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Special-Interest Groups
• The shooting of President Reagan and Jim Brady led to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence by supporting stricter gun control laws
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President Reagan shoved into car after being shot
Special-Interest Groups• The National Rifle
Association strongly opposes stricter gun laws and has a powerful lobby
• Teachers unions, environmentalists, church groups, business organizations, gay rights groups, etc., also have strong lobbies
• There are 27,000 lobbyists in Washington
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Special-Interest Groups
• Political Action Committee (PAC): an organization formed by a special-interest group, independent of political parties, to raise and spend money in support of political goals – Channel money to candidates supporting their
positions– Created in 1970, there are now 4,200
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Special-Interest Groups
• 26% of all campaign funding came from PACs in 2006 congressional elections
• On average, each senator receives $1 million
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Special-Interest Groups
PAC Supporters• Represent the interests of a
vast assortment of businesses, unions, and church groups
• Increases political participation
PAC Critics• PACs try to buy political
influence/favors• Makes participation
unequal
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Special-Interest Groups
• In 2006, the presidential candidates spent $4 billion on their campaigns
• Another $4 billion was spent on other political campaigns in America
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Special-Interest Groups
• 90% of candidates with the most money end up winning their elections
• In 2002, a law was passed to limit the amount of unregulated money candidates are allowed to collect– Not significant change
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Al Gore
Voter Apathy
• Citizens less likely to vote today than 100 years ago– In 2000 presidential
election, only half of registered voters voted
– 2000 campaign won by less than 500 votes
– 60% of voters voted in 2004 campaign
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President George W. Bush
Voter Apathy Likely to Vote
• Women• People over 65• Non-Hispanic white people• Homeowners• Educated people• People with good jobs• People earning more than
$75,000/year
Likely Not to Vote
• College-age adults• Hispanics• People earning less than
$10,000/year
• Note: African Americans, Hispanics, and college-age people are expected to vote in higher proportions this election
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Voter Apathy
• Liberals state that apathy may have more to do with feelings of alienation from politics, that is, there is a doubt that elections make a difference
• Conservatives believe there is often an indifference to politics, that is, there is general content with ones’ lives
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Should Convicted Criminals Vote?
• All states but Vermont and Maine have laws barring people in prison from voting
• Half the states bar people convicted of serious crimes from voting if on probation
• Ten states ban voting for people completing their criminal sentences and offenders must appeal to get voting rights back
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