POLS 207 1nd Edition Lecture 3 – 1/21/14Outline of Last Lecture I. Political actors, commentators, and scientists II. Skill Development Goals of POLS 207III. Statements that seem to contradict each other can all be true or correct IV. Most important ideas in the courseV. Change of the Texas demographic VI. Definition of PoliticsVII. Tucker on Politics Outline of Current Lecture I. Tucker on Politics II. Why gov’t is necessary III. American Political PhilosophyIV. Advantages of Multiple Levels of Government V. Scientific Study of Politics VI. Natural Sciences and Social Sciences Current LectureI. Tucker on Politicsa. It is best to win big; it is next best to win small; it is worse to lose small; it is worstto lose big. b. You can be a winner and a loser simultaneously c. Politics is winning and losing; it is all conflict d. Not everyone can win big. e. Element #1 – let others decide if they win or lose, or if it is big or smallf. Element #2 – decisions of an individual can affect the group and vice-versa. Each individual may have a different opiniong. STRATEGIC BEHAVIOR > SINCERE BEHAVIOR h. You are not affected equally by all decisions;; if you are not affected, (or are just alittle,) be on the losing side. i. Greatly affected by rules. II. Why government is necessary: market failurea. Private sector is not unbiased i. Business of making money ii. Not business of telling the truth These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.b. Need free entry and exit in the market i. Sellers are advantaged with fewer sellers/competition ii. Buyers are advantaged with more sellers iii. Government keeps monopolies from happening c. What the gov’t makes available: i. Knowledge necessary for the market ii. Ways of resolving disputes iii. Not a perfect relationship between who pays and who getsIII. American Political Philosophy a. A minority view in the world b. Individuals are important i. The key political and social units ii. Government exists to provide for individuals iii. Most of the world has the opposite view c. Organizations should benefit individuals IV. Advantages of multiple levels of government a. All countries have multiple levels of governmentb. Efficiency i. Some tasks are taken care of more efficiently in different sized groups.c. Equity i. Matching the people who pay with the people who get d. Participationi. If a decision affects you, you want the opportunity to participateii. If a decision does not affect you, you don’t want to be forced into participating e. Protection against Tyranny i. The US was made for this purpose ii. Not one person can have total power f. Choice i. Always going to have choices V. Scientific study of politics a. Scientific method i. Same as natural science ii. Hypothesis/theory iii. Devise a test/experiment b. Subject matter:i. Human social behavior ii. Conflict VI. Natural Sciences and Social Sciencesa. Natural science > social b. Agreement on basic concepts i. No specific way to fully agree on all concepts ii. A lot is based on belief c. Data validity and reliabilityi. Cannot measure winning and losing ii. No particular measurements d. Data error i. High levels ii. Census is not 100% accurate; is VOTING 100%