political spectrum notes - greenway high school · political spectrum notes author: kayce created...

Liberal Accepts democracy and people’s

involvement in government Humans can basically be trusted Free Expression is important

Liberal Rapid and PEACEFUL change for

improvement is important and good Variety in human lifestyle is acceptable

and even desirable

Liberal Inequality causes crime but criminals can

be reformed- Against Death Penalty Equal opportunity and access are more

important than business freedoms Abortion is a woman’s choice Believes in gun control

Liberal Social programs before military Social programs are paid for by taxes,

should be run by the government, and are good for society.

Want to protect the environment Democrats

Conservative Accepts democracy and people’s

involvement in government Humans need strong guidance because

they are corruptible and cannot be trusted Free expression is important

Conservative Change should be slow and PEACEFUL Traditional lifestyles and values are

important Criminals lack morality and should be

punished not reformed- Pro-Death Penalty

Conservative Business freedoms are more important

that individual freedoms, the environment, or equality

“Right to Life”- No abortions Against gun control laws- Pro 2nd

Amendment Military programs before social programs

Conservative Taxes should not be used for social

programs. Limited taxes on individuals Individuals are responsible for his/her own

life. Republicans

Moderates In the middle of the spectrum between

liberals and conservatives Moderates share some beliefs with the

liberals and some beliefs with the conservatives or find a middle ground between the two

Most of Americans fall under this category or lean a little to the right

Libertarians Can be classified on either the left or the

right Accept democracy and people’s

involvement in government Rights listed in the Bill of Rights must be

preserved

Libertarians Limited role of the Federal Government Elimination of Social Security Elimination of Federal Reserve System

Libertarians Elimination of Internal Revenue Service

and corporate and individual income taxes Education should be privatized… parents

decided what their children are taught

Libertarians Elimination of government assistance to

businesses and individuals Government should not be involved in

international police actions. Military for defense only.

Libertarians Government should stay out of religion People should be allowed to do what they

want without government interference as long as their actions do not violate rights of others. Pro-choice, against drug laws, gay marriage okay,

own guns without registration okay

Radical Only their view is acceptable Everything is either black or white. This is

no grey area or middle ground Man is perfectible since he is a product of

his environment.

Radical A utopian(perfect) society is based upon

total equality which is created by revolution and violence if necessary

Total equality of status for humans is desirable

Radical Government runs and directs society in all

aspects Inequality causes problems in society Egalitarian societies Communist societies Extreme left- Anarchy (no government)

Reactionary Only their view is acceptable Everything is either black or white. There

is no grey area or middle ground Humans should be controlled because

they cannot be trusted.

Reactionary The use of violence to achieve change is

okay Society should return back to past “moral”

society and values.

Reactionary Elite or small group should run the

government Groups that have “corrupted” society

must be eliminated Some groups may be blamed for the

problems in society

Reactionary Some groups are inferior to others Maintain military at all costs Fascists- Nazi Germany Ku Klux Klan and white supremacists Authoritarian governments