Politics in the United States Sociology Chapter 17, Part 2 10/28/20151.

Politics in the United States

SociologyChapter 17, Part 2

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Overview• The United States

fought a revolutionary war against Britain, defeating a monarchy and establishing a republic (representative democracy)

• Political developments reflect cultural history and capitalist economy

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George Washington

U.S. Culture and the Rise of the Welfare State

• The U.S. political culture is based on individualism

• Found in Bill of Rights– Freedom from undue

government interference

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U.S. Culture and the Rise of the welfare State

• Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The government that governs best is the government that governs least”

• In recent years, government has increased in size and influence

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Ralph Waldo Emerson


• The U.S. has evolved into a welfare state• Welfare State: a system of government

agencies and programs that provides benefits to the population

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U.S Culture and the Rise of the Welfare State

• Government programs begin before birth and during old age– Prenatal programs– Social Security and Medicare

• Some programs important to the poor• Students, farmers, homeowners, small

businesses, veterans, performing arts, and executives of corporations are said to get help

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• A majority of adults look to government for part of their income—according to the text

• However, government doesn’t have any money

• What??

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• Government takes our money and redistributes it to people they want to redistribute it to

• Our money is taken in the form of taxes and “at the point of a gun” (try not paying taxes)

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• In 1789, the entire American budget was $4.5 million – $1.50 for each person in America

• In 2006, the budget is $2.7 trillion– $9,000 for each person

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• At the founding of our nation, one government employee served 1,800 citizens

• Today, one in six workers is a government employee—more people than engaged in manufacturing

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• As a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), (36.6%) the U.S. welfare state is still smaller than other high-income nations– E.G. Denmark, Sweden,

etc

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The Political Spectrum

• Some people want to expand the welfare state while others want to reduce it– The political spectrum encompasses beliefs that

range from extremely liberal “on the left” to extremely conservative “on the right”

– Generally, liberals want to expand it while conservatives what to reduce it

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The Political Spectrum

• 25% are left wing• 33% are right win• 40% are moderates• Two issues on the

spectrum– Economic issues focus

on economic inequality– Social issues involve how

people should live

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Economic Issues

Liberals• Support extensive

government regulation of the economy

• Generally, larger welfare state

• Reduce income inequality• Tax the “rich” more• More government

Conservatives• Limit government influence

in the economy• Allow market forces more

freedom• Freedom produces more

jobs and makes economy more productive

• Cut taxes across the board• Less government

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Social Issues Liberals• Support equal rights• Abortion is a choice• Oppose the death penalty• Support gay marriage• Supports Affirmative Action

programs• For comprehensive

immigration policy (including amnesty)

• More gun control

Conservatives• Support equal rights• Anti-abortion• Support the death penalty• Against gay marriage• Against Affirmative Action

programs• Against comprehensive

immigration policy (against amnesty)

• Support for 2nd amendment

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Social Issues

Democrats• More liberal on economic

and social issues• Has a conservative wing

Republicans• More conservative on

economic and social issues• Has a liberal wing

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Class, Race, and Gender

Wealthy• Economic conservatives• Social liberals

Low Income• Economic liberals• Social conservatives

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African Americans• More liberal, both rich and

poor • Vote mostly Democratic

(almost 90%)

Whites• More men vote

conservatively and therefore for Republicans

• More women vote liberally and therefore for Democrats

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• Latinos, Asian Americans, and Jews have supported Democrats

• College women vote more liberally than college men

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President Kennedy

Party Identification

Democrats• 44% • 16% strong Democrats

Republicans• 38%• 14% strong Republicans

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Party Identification• 18% call themselves independents– Results in gains and losses for both parties

depending on the year– Democrats had White House in 1992 and 1996--

gained congressional seats in 1996, 1998, 2000– Republicans made gains in 2002 and 2004 in

congress and kept the White House – In 2006, Democrats gained control of congress

and promised the “most honest and open congress in history”

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Party Identification

• Urban areas generally vote Democrat• Rural areas generally vote Republican• In 2004, President Bush won 80% of the

counties and 51% of the popular vote to Senator Kerry’s 20% and 48%, respectively

• Reference the special reading on “The Rural-Urban Divide: Election 2004”

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Special Interest Groups• Special-interest group:

people organized to address some economic or social issues

• Are special interests controlling most of the country and most states, e.g. environmentalists vs drilling for oil?

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Special Interest Groups

• Unions– Teachers– Truckers– Steel Workers– Garment– Automotive

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Special Interest Groups

• Environment groups particularly unmoving and not willing to negotiate– Oil drilling– Millions of African children dying because of

malaria• But the answer is the use of DDT—banned by Rachel

Carson years ago—OK for humans, but deadly to the mosquito that carries the virus• Senator Obama has always spoken about malaria

problem in Africa—Dear Senator, it’s called DDT.

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Special-Interest Groups

• The shooting of President Reagan and Jim Brady led to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence by supporting stricter gun control laws

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President Reagan shoved into car after being shot

Special-Interest Groups• The National Rifle

Association strongly opposes stricter gun laws and has a powerful lobby

• Teachers unions, environmentalists, church groups, business organizations, gay rights groups, etc., also have strong lobbies

• There are 27,000 lobbyists in Washington

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• Political Action Committee (PAC): an organization formed by a special-interest group, independent of political parties, to raise and spend money in support of political goals – Channel money to candidates supporting their

positions– Created in 1970, there are now 4,200

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• 26% of all campaign funding came from PACs in 2006 congressional elections

• On average, each senator receives $1 million

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PAC Supporters• Represent the interests of a

vast assortment of businesses, unions, and church groups

• Increases political participation

PAC Critics• PACs try to buy political

influence/favors• Makes participation

unequal

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• In 2006, the presidential candidates spent $4 billion on their campaigns

• Another $4 billion was spent on other political campaigns in America

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• 90% of candidates with the most money end up winning their elections

• In 2002, a law was passed to limit the amount of unregulated money candidates are allowed to collect– Not significant change

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Al Gore

Voter Apathy

• Citizens less likely to vote today than 100 years ago– In 2000 presidential

election, only half of registered voters voted

– 2000 campaign won by less than 500 votes

– 60% of voters voted in 2004 campaign

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President George W. Bush

Voter Apathy Likely to Vote

• Women• People over 65• Non-Hispanic white people• Homeowners• Educated people• People with good jobs• People earning more than

$75,000/year

Likely Not to Vote

• College-age adults• Hispanics• People earning less than

$10,000/year

• Note: African Americans, Hispanics, and college-age people are expected to vote in higher proportions this election

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Voter Apathy

• Liberals state that apathy may have more to do with feelings of alienation from politics, that is, there is a doubt that elections make a difference

• Conservatives believe there is often an indifference to politics, that is, there is general content with ones’ lives

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Should Convicted Criminals Vote?

• All states but Vermont and Maine have laws barring people in prison from voting

• Half the states bar people convicted of serious crimes from voting if on probation

• Ten states ban voting for people completing their criminal sentences and offenders must appeal to get voting rights back

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Should Convicted Criminals Vote?

• About 5 million people are ineligible from voting due to their criminal records

• Convicted felons are 2 to 1 more likely to vote for Democrats than for Republicans

• What does that say?

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Politics in the United States Sociology Chapter 17, Part 2 10/28/20151.

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Transcript of Politics in the United States Sociology Chapter 17, Part 2 10/28/20151.