Political Spectrum

Where do YOU fitIn the

World of Politics?

Ideology: A Definition

A set of beliefs about:• Politics• The Economy• SocietyThat shape a person’s world.

Question:

• Where do you fit in?• Directions: http://www.fishforinfo.org/dan-h/• Click on: News Resources• Click on: Political Parties of NYS• Click on the Political Spectrum Quiz Link• Take the Quiz & Record Your Answers

Traditional Spectrum

LEFT CENTER RIGHT

Liberals Moderates Conservatives

Traditional Spectrum

LEFT CENTER RIGHT

Liberals Moderates Conservatives

People who generally favor gov’t action and view change as progress

People who generally favor limited

government and are cautious about change

Mushy Middle People that look for compromise,Or are split on the Issues.

Economic Spectrum

LEFT CENTER RIGHTMore

GovernmentControl

LessGovernment

Control

Communism:Complete Gov’tOwnership & Control

SocialDemocracy/

Socialism:Mostly Private with

Extensive Gov’t Control

Regulated Capitalism:

Private Ownership & Some Gov’t

Control

Laissez-FaireCapitalism:Private Ownership, NO Gov’t Control

Some Sort ofBalance

Ruling Style

Authoritarian

Libertarian

Ruling Style

More Government Control

Less Government Control

Anarchy: No gov’t or man made laws

Authoritarian System: Gov’t decides/imposes how people live their lives

Non-Authoritarian: Citizens decide how to live lives. Gov’t guarantees individual rights.

A Different Way of Looking at Things

Authoritarian

Left Right

Libertarian

Authoritarian Capitalism

Advanced Industrial

Democracy

Communist Democracy

TotalitarianSystem

The Spectrum

Authoritarian

Left Right

Libertarian

Authoritarian Capitalism

Advanced Industrial

Democracy

Communist Democracy

TotalitarianSystem

Let’s Play a Game!

Word Association!!!

I say a word…..And you say the OPPOSITE WORD

That comes to your mind.

Question/Definition

• Stereotype?• How does this affect people?

Scores: Thank you to the NYS…

• Constitution Party: Gary Gunsher• Conservative Party: Nancy D.• UB College Democrats: Quinne Sember• Green Party: Brian Bittner• Libertarian Party: Mike Edes• UB College Republicans: Alana Barricks• Socialist Party: Billy Wharton• Working Families Party: Mike Boland

Politi

cal C

ompa

ss

Economic Issues

Left Right

•Pro-Union•Planned Economy•Health Care as a Right•Progressive Taxation•Government Oversight•Minimum/Living Wage•Protectionist/Fair Trade•Social Security

•Anti-Union•Free-Market•Health Care•Cut Taxes•No Government Regulation•Prevailing Wage•Free Trade•401(k) for Retirement

Foreign Policy

Non-Interventionist Neo-Conservative

•Passive/Pacifist•Defensive•America First (Take care of)•“Humanitarian?”•Necessity of War?•Diplomacy First•Anti-Imperialist/Colonialist•End the War on Drugs•End the War on Terrorism

•SuperPower•Police Man of the World•Project American Policy•“Humanitarian”•First Strike•Min. Diplomacy w/Enemies•Imperialist/Colonialist•War on Drugs•War on Terrorism

Foreign Policy

Non-Interventionist Neo-Conservative

Democrat (-4.94)Libertarian (-7.23)Socialist (-7.24)

Conservative (2.43)Republican (5.15)Constitution (-1.35)

Green (-2.09)Working Families (-2.58)Communist (-2.99)

Culture Wars: Social Issues

Left•National Health Care•Pro-Abortion/Choice•Gay Rights/Marriage•Right to Die/Euthanasia•Separation of Church & State•Gun Control•Affirmative Action•Evolution•Patriotism – Questioning•No National Language Law•Reform Criminals•Decriminalize Drugs•Freedom of Speech•Anti-Prohibition•Life in Prison/Prison Reform•Pro-Immigration/Immigrant Rights

Right•Privatized Health Care•Anti-Abortion/Pro-Life•No Gay Rights/Marriage•No Right to Die/Euthanasia•Prayer in School•Gun Freedom•No Affirmative Action•Creation/Intel. Design•Patriotism – Unquestioning•National Language Law•Punish Criminals•Criminalize Drugs•Speech Restrictions•Prohibition•Pro-Death Penalty•Anti-Immigration

Culture Wars: Social Issues

Liberal Conservative

Libertarian (-5.28)Communist (-5.87)Democrat (-7.08)Socialist (-8.33)

Constitution (3.54)Conservative (5.64)Republican (5.69)

Working Families Party (-3.23)Green (-3.35)

Questions?

Questions?Any?

Seriously?Please?

Just one?My shoe size is between an 8 & a 9…..

Why Register/Vote 3rd Party?

“It is better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.”

-Eugene Victor Debs

Think about this…..

“When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that it is still an evil.”

-Max Lerner

Another Thought…..

“Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the [correct] answer.”

-JFK