PUBLIC OPINION

WHAT IS IT?

• PURE LIBERAL- • Economic liberal/social liberal

– Econ- redistribute wealth, regulate business– Social- rights of the individual over rights of

group

About 17% of population- young, college educated, Jewish, eastern

• Liberals seek equality through government intervention.

• PURE CONSERVATIVE• Economic and Social conservative

– Econ- free market, low taxes, keep what you earn

– Social- rights of the group over rights of individual, keep order, legislate anti-social behavior ( gays, drugs etc)

About 28% of population white, older,midwest no college

• The rights of the group, protect the innocent group at the expense of the criminal individual. Bush did it passionately.

EXTREMISTS!!!!!!!!

• EXTREME LIBERAL- RADICAL• Liberal agenda, use whatever means

possible• Daniel Barrigan ( Catonsville Nine

member)• Greenpeace

EXTREME CONSERVATIVE- REACTIONARY

Conservative agenda by any means necessary

Abortion doctor killers

• LIBERTARIAN• Economic conservative, social liberal• Pure ideology- liberty dominates• Econ- free market, power to individual• Social- free from gov’t intervention, drugs,

abortion, gun rights etc• Young, college educated, western • %??? 23-59% who knows?

Here is one measure

• Laissez faire, dummy!!!!

• POPULIST-• Economic liberal, social conservative• Governemnt intervention in both• Econ- redistribute income• social- control behavior• 24%?? Southern, poor, uneducated,

religious, Protestant- vote GOP

Match the quote

• “I am willing, by any means to bring an end to the injustices my people suffer”- Malcom X

• “Government is best that governs least”- Walter Lippman

• “Let welfare be a private concern. Let it be promoted by individuals”- Barry Goldwater

• “We have rejected the notion that the fortunes of the nation should be in the hands of the few”- Truman

HOW THE HECK DO YOU BECOME ONE?

• FAMILY- Young become what parents are. This influence is diminishing twice. As you age and generationally.

• RELIGION- – Protestant – conservative– Catholic- church is conservative but people

often vote liberal- socially conscious– Jewish- strong liberals

Catholics mirror election results..2012 5th in last 6 where

Catholics picked winner

Religious beliefs

• GENDER• Men vote conservative, women liberal

Presidential Candidates2004 George W. Bush (R) W 48% M 55% John Kerry (D) W 51% M 41%

2000 George W. Bush (R) W 43% M 53% Al Gore (D) W 54% M 42%

MEN & WOMEN ARE JUST DIFFERENT

• EDUCATION• More education = more liberal

– College introduces liberal thought, professors are liberal, college process is analytical

– 2006 electionTOTAL Democrats Republican

No College Degree (55%)

53% 45%

College Graduate (45%)

53% 46%

• RACE- White- conservative- Black- social conservatives, economic

liberals- vote democrats- Hispanics- Liberal except Fla Cubans- Asian Americans- vote liberal- Hispanics and Asians are the two fastest

growing populations in US

So who’s in trouble?

• REGION– East = most liberal, most educated– South= most conservative, least educated,

64%Protestants, 45% “born again”- populists– West- ant-government (libertarian)

• 2004 election red= dem blue=GOP

SOME EXAMPLES

• The results don’t always measure what the political scientists say but:

• dang they are close

• But why aren’t they always right, you ask…

• CLEAVAGES• We are many different things so an easy

identification of an ideology is difficult• I am a black southern male with a PhD.

What is my ideology?

Word association

• Support status quo• Prayer in schools• No gay rights• Oppose choice• Death penalty • Strong military

• Promote progress• Trust government• Social services• Pro choice• Income equality• Arms control

DOES PUBLIC OPINION MATTER?

• NOPE!– Many differing opinions, no mandate– Government pays attention only to elites– Public ignorance creates a “sandy foundation”– Polls are skewed by wording of question– Public opinion unstable- ex. Pres approval

ratings