Chapter 1- Political Thinking: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Political Thinking- the careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming a knowledgeable view about a political issue. Political thinking enables citizens to act responsibly

(Involves application of relevant information to the problem at hand.

Barriers to Political Thinking

-Liberating individuals, democracy frees them to make choices.

(Unwillingness of citizens to make the effort to pay close attention to politics

Others do not pay close attention to political information-( knowledge gap (less trustworthy)

Many of news outlets slant information to fit their purpose while burying contradictory facts

( Propaganda- lures an audience to promote a cause

( Political leaders slant messages- Obama administration put a favorable slant on the impact of its economic stimulus program, leading some Americans (mostly democrats) to conclude that the administration had saved and created more jobs than it actually had.

Faulty perceptions are becoming more prevalent and changes in communication are to blame.

***People are keen to receive messages that confirm what they already believe

Citizens cannot know whether their ideas are sound until they have heard alternative views and weighed them against their own.

What Political Science Can Contribute to Political Thinking

Political science- the systematic study of the government and politics. This has developed largely through the work of scholars, but political practioners and writers have also contributed.

Political science allows:

1. Reliable information about how U.S political system operates

2. Systematic generalizations about major tendencies in American politics

3. Terms and concepts that precisely describe key aspects of politics

These tools enable the citizen to delve more deeply into political developments than would otherwise be possible.

Americas Individualistic Culture

(Americans do not necessarily have less sympathy than Europeans for the less advantaged, but they have resisted an extensive role for government out of a belief that able-bodied individuals should take responsibility for their economic security and out of a conviction that government assistance erodes self-reliance.

(Over the decades, Americans have expressed varying levels of dissatisfaction with the countrys health care system, but there has been one constant during this period. Never has a majority expressed a willingness to entrust health insurance fully to governmentan arrangement that Europeans take for granted.

By contrast, Americans place a greater emphasis than Europeans on personal advancement through education.

The United States has led the way in education, first by pioneering the idea of universal public schooling, and then by creating the worlds most elaborate system of higher education, which now includes more than three thousand two-year and four-year institutions.

Politics and Power in America Politics is the means by which society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs.

Those who prevail in political conflicts are said to have power, a term that refers to the ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments.

Authoritarian governments openly repress their political opponents as a means of staying in power.

(The most extreme form of authoritarian government, totalitarianism, admits to no limits on its power: the state controls the media, directs the economy, dictates what can and cannot be taught in schools, defines family relations, and decides which religionsif anycan be practiced openly.

democracy- form of government in which the people govern, directly or through elected representativesoligarchy- control rests with a small wealthy family or high ranking officialsMajoritarianism- the idea that the majority not only in lections but also in policy determination. Happens when political leaders respond to the policy desires of the majority.ex. When Congress in 2009 enacted a $787 billion spending bill to stimulate the economy, it was responding to majority demand. Unemployment was rising, and a CNN poll showed that 54 percent of Americans backed the legislation.Pluralism- the theory of American politics that hold politics hat societys interests are substantially represented through power exercised by groups.Authority- The recognized right of officials to exercise power as a result of the positions they hold. ex. When President Obama decided in 2009 to increase troop levels in Afghanistan, he did so despite polls that showed most Americans would have preferred a reduction in U.S. forces there.In making the decision, Obama was exercising his constitutional authority as commander in chief of the armed forces.To guard against oppressive majorities, the writers of the Constitution devised an elaborate system of checks and balances, dividing authority among the legislative,Executive and judicial branches. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution a few years later as a further check on the majority.constitutionalismthe idea that there are lawful restrictions on governments power.judicial action- The use of courts of law as a means by which individuals protect their rights and settle their conflicts.Free Market system- an economic system based on the idea that government shouldInterfere with economic transactions as little as possible. Free enterprise and self-relianceare the collective and individual principles that underpin free markets.Under socialism , as it is practiced today in Sweden and other countries, government does not attempt to manage the overall economy, but owns a number of major industries and guarantees every individual a minimalstandard of living.The tax rate is lower in America than in European countries because the U.S. government makes less effort through taxation to redistribute income from the rich to the poor in the form of economic assistancecorporate power- The power that corporations exercise in their effort toinfluence government and maintain control of the workplace.elitism-which refers to the power exercised by well-positioned and highly influential individuals