Political Ideology
A consistent set of views about the policies
government should pursue (e.g. liberal vs.
conservative)
Write down a list of words/ideas/people that you associate
with these terms:
Liberal
Conservative
Policy Tendencies:
Liberal
Conservative
Democrats
Republicans
Pro-Choice
Pro Life
Higher taxes
Lower Taxes
More Government Services
Fewer Govt. Services
No Prayer in Public Schools
Prayer in Pub. Schools
Gun Control
Right to Bear Arms
Pro Same-Sex Marriage
Anti Same-Sex Marriage
Anti Death Penalty
Pro Death Penalty
Universal Healthcare
Individual Responsibility
Welfare Safety Net
Individual Responsibility
Regulation of Business
Little Regulation of Business
Minimum Wage
Govt. out of the Job Market
Liberal or Conservative?
Government should not censor speech, press, media or the internet.
Repeal laws prohibiting adult possession and use of drugs.
Let people control their own retirement; privatize Social Security.
Replace government welfare with private charity.
Government regulation of business is necessary to protect the public interest
Government regulation of business usually does more harm than good.
Too much power is concentrated in the hands of a few large companies.
Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and
The government should help those in need even if it has to raise taxes.
Government programs like welfare discourage people from working.
Liberal or Conservative?
Government should not censor speech, press, media or the internet.
Liberal
Repeal laws prohibiting adult possession and use of drugs.
Liberal
Let people control their own retirement; privatize Social Security.
Conservative
Replace government welfare with private charity.
Conservative
Government regulation of business is necessary to protect the public interest Liberal
Government regulation of business usually does more harm than good.
Conservative
Too much power is concentrated in the hands of a few large companies.
Liberal
Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and
Conservative
The government should help those in need even if it has to raise taxes.
Liberal
Government programs like welfare discourage people from working.
Conservative
Voter A: “I worked my
way up from poverty to
become the successful
business owner I am
today. I get frustrated
when I think that my tax
money goes to support
people who won’t help
themselves. I think part
of the blame belongs with
the media – they promote
all the wrong values.”
Voter B: “I really don’t
care what other people do
in their free time, as long
as they don’t bother me.
I sure don’t like it when
the government tells me
what to do with my
money or in my own home
– I’m certainly not going
to turn around and do the
same thing to my
neighbors.”
Ideology?
Ideology?
Voter C: “I really worry
about the state of the
world today. It seems
like more and more kids
are growing up in
poverty and there’s no
one there to help them.
I think we need to do
more toward providing
healthcare and
education programs for
our young people.”
Voter D: “These days, you
can’t be too careful. I think
we need to spend a lot more
money on the national
defense. I wish there was a
police officer on every
corner! The police could
search my car all they want,
since I don’t break the law.
I also think the government
should crack down on the
media – their reporting gives
our enemies an inside look
at all our military
preparations.”
Ideology?
Ideology?
Historical Definitions
Radical
Liberal
Wants sweeping
change
Wants some
change
Few changes
Few or no changes Wants sweeping
change
By any means;
sometimes
violent or
revolutionary
Through
compromise
Through
compromise
Through
compromise
By Any means;
sometimes violent or
authoritarian
Some new; some
focus on tradition
Toward the past,
or stay with
tradition
Change toward the
past, the good old
days
Change towards the Toward the
future, new
future, new
directions
solutions
Moderate Conservative Reactionary
The Spectrum with Politics in Mind
Reactionary
Conservative
Moderate
Liberal
“RIGHT”
Radical
“LEFT”