Political Ideologies
With COWS
Anarchy
• Absence of any
form of
political
authority.
Examples: Occupy Wall Street
Two Cows - Anarchy
• You have two cows, your neighbor has none.
He takes one from you because he wants one. You would
go to the police for help, but there aren’t any.
Manorialism
A political and economic system, based on
the holding of land by lords who protected
the serfs in return for service.
Two Cows - Manorialism
You have two cows.
Your lord takes some of
the milk in exchange
for protection.
Your neighbor has no
cows.
Your neighbor is in big
trouble.
Feudalism A political and economic
system in which land and
government are given to vassals in
return for their military service.
Two Cows-- Feudalism
• You have no cows.
• A lord gives you two
cows
• AND the right to rule
the serfs
• In return for your
sword service.
Theocracy
•
A government
ruled by or
subject to
religious
authority.
Two Cows - Theocracy
You have two
cows.
Your neighbor
wants them, and
accuses you of
being a witch.
Goodbye.
Democracy
A government by the
people; a form of
government in
which the supreme
power is vested in
the people and
exercised directly by
them.
Democracy
• You have two
cows.
• Your neighbor
steals one.
• Your other
neighbors
make him give
it back.
Republic/Representative Democracy
• A defining characteristic is the absence of a
monarch; power comes only from the people.
• A type of democracy in which the citizens
delegate authority to elected officials.
Two Cows – Representative
Democracy
• You have two cows.
Your neighbors don’t
have any.
• You and your
neighbors pick
someone to
determine exactly
what you’ll be
allowed to do with
the milk.
Capitalism
• An economic system in which
investment in and ownership of the means
of production, distribution, and exchange
of wealth is made and maintained chiefly
by private individuals or corporations.
• Capitalism tends to oppose cooperatively
or state-owned means of wealth.
• Adam Smith: “When an individual pursues
his self-interest, he indirectly promotes the
good of society.”
Two Cows - Capitalism
• You have two
cows. Your
neighbor has
none. You sell
one cow and
buy a bull. You
breed them, and
sell your
neighbor a new
cow for a profit.
Socialism
• A theory or system of social
organization that advocates
the vesting of the ownership
and control of the means of
production and distribution
in the community as a
whole.
• Social Democracy – Advocating the things important
to socialism within free elections. Also supportive of
reforms and regulations within Capitalism, but still
supportive of the concept of a Free Market in general.
Two Cows - Socialism
• You have two cows.
The government takes them and puts them in a
barn with everyone else's cows.
You have to take care of all the cows.
The government gives you as much milk as you
need.
Communism
• A system of social organization based on holding all
property in common. Actual ownership is given to
the community as a whole, or to the state of behalf
of the community.
Two Cows - Communism
• You have two cows. Your neighbor has none.
You have to take care of them, but the single-party
government takes all the milk to redistribute “fairly.”
• You have to stand in line for hours to get milk.
• It is sour.
Fascism/Dictatorship
• A governmental
system led by a
dictator having
complete power,
forcibly suppressing
opposition and
criticism, controlling
all industry,
commerce, and trade.
There is an emphasis
on nationalism, and
often racism.
Two Cows - Fascism
• You have two cows.
The government takes both, hires you
to take care of them, and then shoots
you.
Free Market
Command Market