John Paul Tabakian, Ed.D.Political Science 1 – US Government

Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 – Power Point 2

Course Lecture Topics1. Power Theory2. Transparency Theory3. Cinemocracy / Manipulation / The Use Of Force4. American Democracy5. Government of the Few6. Fear of Pure Democracy7. American Elite Consensus / The First Elite Class8. Elite Repression and the Survival of Democracy9. Priorities of the Founders10.Constitutional Elements / Conflict & Compromise

Power Theory – 1 1. To exert power one must first possess adequate reserves

– This is defined simply as “capacity of power.”2. Achieving higher positions is dependent on various factors

that may include: education; wealth; profession; charismaand other talents either developed or engrained from birth.

3. This “capacity of power” is not determined according to asingle resource, ability or possession.

4. It is a combination of different variables that serve to makeup the individual.

5. This is just like a battery consisting of energy resourcesdrawn upon when it comes time to draw power in order toachieve a set objective.

Power Theory – 2 Like a battery powering a flashlight so does one’s individual “capacity of

power” serve to assist one in achieving a set goal or in

this case influencing or affecting political behavior

to maintain, expand or protect one’s standing in

order to survive in society.

Power Theory – 3 Power equals resources (capacity of power) times compliancesquared, divided by force. Every accounting of power theory istaken into consideration in the construction of this formula. Wehave explored the contention that the pursuit of self-interestencourages man to engage in political behavior. This servesas the foundation for rational choice theory, which in turn hasled us to power theory. One may argue that the pursuit ofpower maintains the never ending cycle of political: conflict;compromise; alliances; and wars.

Power Theory – 4Many have countered this argument with a direct assault onthe statement that “there is no morality in politics”. Thesecritics are both right and wrong. It is true that morality has nodirect correlation with political science if the pursuit of self-interests and power resources maintains utmost priority. Onthe other hand they may be correct if one party sells theirpursuit as a moral cause in order to achieve their agenda.For example, one may argue that good may come fromconflict even if it leads to the destruction of a nation-stateand the slaughtering of thousands or millions of people if theseed of democracy is planted and nurtured to maturity.

Transparency – 1 America has grown from the days of a colony to majorpower, superpower, and hegemon, to its present empirestatus. American power is felt throughout the internationalcommunity. Playing poker requires one to adopt what iscommonly known as a “poker face”. Players will hide theirtrue emotions, even faking their true intentions to catchother players off guard. Some have even taken to wearingsunglasses. The exact opposite tactic that the UnitedStates has adopted is “Transparency”. This involvesdisclosing all routes the nation-state will undertake withregards to all forms of public policy pertaining to itspolitical, economic and military strategies.

Transparency – 2 Alexander Hamilton initiatedthis policy as the chief financialphilosopher of the UnitedStates even if he did not cointhe term. Hamilton is regardedas the chief architect of oureconomic policy, which in turnwas developed in order to winthe confidence of domestic USbusiness and financial elites aswell as gaining the confidenceof international business.

Transparency Example – 1 America possesses the mosttechnologically advancedmilitary hardware. This videodemonstrates one of the firstdeployable force fields forlight armored vehicles(LAVs). Welcome to the 21stCentury.

Trophy

Transparency Example – 2 America is not the only nationthat utilizes Transparency.This video shows the IsraeliDefense Force demonstratinga new type of gun that canshoot around corners. A briefinterview with the inventor ofthis amazing weapon followsthe demonstration.

Corner Shot

Transparency Example – 3 Some forms of transparency areboth political and military innature. The military sponsoredthe development of the MassiveOrdinance Aerial Burst (MOAB). Itis commonly referred to as “TheMother Of All Bombs”. It is thelargest conventional bomb in ourarsenal. There is a psychologicalcomponent to this bomb. Amushroom cloud forms followingsuccessful detonation. It lookssomewhat a nuclear detonation.

MOAB

Transparency Example – 4 Javelin is a fire-and-forget missilewith lock-on before launch andautomatic self-guidance. Thesystem takes a top-attack flightprofile against armored vehicles(attacking the top armor which isgenerally thinner) but can alsotake a direct-attack mode for useagainst buildings or fortifications.This missile also has the ability toengage helicopters. Javelin issupplied by Raytheon/LockheedMartin's JAVELIN Joint Venture.

Javelin

CinemocracyVarious forms of propaganda havebeen utilized to drum up masssupport to better assure elitelegitimacy. Cinemocracy, therelationship between motionpictures and government is oneway governmental elites sell theiragenda. Enjoy this classic cartoonwhere “Popeye The Sailor Man”battles the Nazis.

Popeye Versus The Nazis

Cinemocracy / Manipulation / Force

• Cinemocracy–Example of power?

• Manipulation–Example of power?

• The Use Of Force–Example of Power?

Propaganda – Citizen BasedTechnological advancements haveempowered common citizens withcreative minds to produce their ownpropaganda. “The War On Terror”sparked a great deal of mediadistributed via the Internet. Elites nolonger maintain total control overdistribution. Many citizens may deemthese video as offensive. Keep inmind that propaganda is meant toproduce an “Us” versus “Them”mindset. Does this video have anyimpact over your belief system?

Diplomacy

American Democracy – 1 Elitism in the United States is government by the few.Elites and the Masses in American Political Life.1. Elites have power to decide who gets what, when, and how.2. The lives of the masses are shaped by elite decisions.Democracy and the Survival of Democracy1. Democracy is government by the people.2. The survival of democracy is in the hands of elites.Evidence About Political Life Supporting Elite Theory1. The Irony of Democracy explains American political life

using elite theory.2. American / contemporary political history provides evidence

of life in a democracy shaped by elites.

Government Of The FewItalian political scientist Gaetano Moscaexpressed the meaning of elitism.1. In all societies there is a small ruling class and a

more numerous ruled class.2. French political scientist Roberto Michels stated

the iron law of oligarchy.3. American political scientist Harold Lasswell

expressed that government is always by the few.4. Elites are of society’s upper classes that control

resources and societal institutions.

Fear Of Pure Democracy1. The Founders feared that government by

majority rule would threaten the freedom andproperty of minorities and individuals.

2. President Abraham Lincoln expressed theimpracticality of mass government.

3. Representative democracy inevitably leads toelite government.

4. In Western democracies, elites have multipleinstitutional bases of power.

American Elite ConsensusUNITED STATES ELITE CONSENSUS

1. Liberty

2. Respect For Private Property

3. Limited Government

NOTE: Elites argue over the “MEANS” and not the “ENDS.”

NOTE: Respect for private property does not necessarilymean safeguarding one’s home or personal possessionslike a car. It really means providing adequate security tosafeguard a person.

Elite Repression – 1 Elites primarily concern themselves with maintainingand/or enhancing their positions of power. Thisrequires protecting the power system in which theydominate. Stability of the system is an issue of greatconcern. If the system is not stable then the massclass may no longer view elites as “legitimate. Massactivism inspires elite repression. Elites respond bylimiting freedom and strengthening security, banningdemonstrations, curtailing speech, etc. One can arguethat sexual harassment laws may be a form of eliterepression. Why is this so?

Elite Repression – 2The majority of the mass classmay actually favor eliterepression to some degree,especially during times ofnational conflict (war). Shortlyafter Pearl Harbor, PresidentFranklin Delano Rooseveltauthorized the internment ofJapanese Americans living onthe West Coast, which theSupreme Court upheld. Could ithappen to another group ofcitizens again?

Japanese Internment

Political MessagesTechnology allows the commonindividual to cheaply create anddistribute propaganda worldwide.Cartoons have a tendency to makelight such terrible subjects that includewarfare. “Little Saddam & Bush” and“Saddam On The Run” were producedand distributed prior to Persian GulfWar II. The intent was to increasemass support for a US led invasion ofIraq. Do these cartoons influence yourpersonal opinion one way or theother? Would they have impact overpolitical leaders? Why or why not?

Saddam

Little Bush & Saddam

The First Elite Class – 1The Founding Fathers Were Exceptional Elites

1. The Founding Fathers were wealthy, educated,talented, and resourceful.

2. The Founding Fathers established a survivable andstable federal government.

3. The Founding Fathers established a constitutionalgovernment not based on heredity.

The First Elite Class – 21. Elites were merchants, planters, lawyers, and bankers.

2. A small middle class was composed of successfulfarmers, shopkeepers, and independent artisans.

3. The great mass of White Americans were small farmersand workers in fishing, lumbering, and commerce.

4. The bottom of the white social structure consisted ofindentured servants and tenant farmers.

5. Black slaves were an important component of theAmerican economy considered property in the newdemocratic nation.

Priorities Of The FoundersThe Founding Fathers’ preferences for constitutionforming were government, the economy, and nationalism.1. The fundamental role of a republican form of government

was to protect liberty and property and to suppress threatsagainst dominant economic elites.

2. The strong central government was to open western land tospeculation, protect shipping and manufacturing, andensure the return of runaway slaves.

3. The politically and economically strong central governmentwas to play a respectable role in the internationalcommunity and exercise power in world affairs.

Formative Constitutional ElementsThe formative elements of a national elite were evident at theAnnapolis Convention and the Constitutional Convention.1. The prestige of George Washington qualified him to preside

over the Constitutional Convention.2. The Founding Fathers had extensive governing experience.3. The Founding Fathers had attained high educational

achievements and were legally trained political decision-makers.

4. The Founding Fathers formed a major part of the nation’swealthy business and financial leadership.

5. The Founding Fathers viewed political, economic, and militaryissues from a nationalist perspective, looking beyond theirstate loyalties.

Government Consensus1. Delegates agreed that the fundamental end of government

is the protection of liberty and property.2. Delegates believed that there was a contractual relationship

between the people and their government, and that theultimate legitimacy of government is popular sovereignty.

3. Delegates believed that a republican government was arepresentative, responsible, and nonhereditary government.

4. Delegates believed that dividing government power amongseparate branches capable of checking each other was thegreatest assurance against tyranny.

5. Delegates believed that only a strong national governmentcould exercise its will directly on the people.

Conciliation & CompromisesThe Connecticut compromise was that representation in theHouse of Representatives would be based on population andrepresentation in the United States Senate would be equal withtwo senators from each state.1. The compromises on slavery were that three-fifths of the

slaves of each state would be counted for the purpose ofrepresentation and taxation, and that the slave trade wouldnot end before 1808.

2. The compromise on tariffs was that exported articles shouldnot be taxed and only the national government could taximported articles.

3. The delegates agreed that there would be state, not national,qualifications on voting according to property holdings.

Elite ConstitutionThe Constitution was an elitist document.1. Elites enjoyed constitutional benefits from congressional

levy of taxes, regulation of commerce, protection ofmoney and property, creation of the military, protectionagainst revolution, protection of slavery, limitation ofstates in monetary and business affairs.

2. The elite’s support for a strong national governmentwas realized by constitutional arrangements such asnational supremacy, republicanism, separation ofpowers and checks and balances, and judicial review.

3. Elites skillfully used an extraordinary procedure, limitedparticipation, and a Bill of Rights to achieveconstitutional ratification.