POLS 206 Lecture 10Outline of Previous Lecture-Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Action o6.1American Melting Pot Regional ShiftGraying of America o6.2Process of Political Socialization Political Learning Over a Lifetimeo6.3How Polls are Conducted Role of Polls in American DemocracyOutline of Current LectureWhat Polls Reveal About Americans Political InformationDecline of Trust in Governmento6.4Do People Think in Ideological Terms o6.5How Americans Participate in Politicso6.6Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government Democracy, Public Opinion and Political Action-Chapter 8: Political Parties o8.1Task of PartiesParties, Voters, and Policy: Downs ModelLecture-What Polls Reveal About Americans' Political Information Americans are uninformed -Jeffersonian faith in wisdom of common people unfounded -Young people most uninformed Who is responsible for the ill-informed electorate? -We are, mostly apathy; people need to take time to get informed Paradox of mass politics -Decline of Trust in Government The great slide -Vietnam war -American people being lied to about the progress of the war -Watergate - Richard Nixon sparked domestic scandal -Economy/hostage crisisIs public cynicism good?-We should question our government -Negative effects on programs for the poor o6.4-Do People Think in Ideological Terms?Types of voters -Ideologues (12%)-Voters who vote based on issues (did research and voted for whothey agreed with)-Group benefits -Vote based on groups of who they like and dislike (any group, notnecessarily political party)-Nature of the times (42%)-Vote based on "Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?"-Retrospective voting -No issue content (22%)-Based on character of candidate o6.5 -How Americans Participate in Politics Conventional Participation-Voting, working on campaigns, run for office, write letters, etc. Protest as participation (Unconventional)-Civil disobedience - you knowingly break the law because you feel that the law is unjust and are willing to face the consequences (India, Civil rightsmovement in the US) -Open conflict, warClass, inequality, and participation -Higher socio-economic status = higher participation rates -Minorities vote at nearly equal levels -What are the policy implications of lower political participation?o6.6-Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government Should government do more or less?-In peacetime, most Americans say "less"But public opinion is complex and inconsistent -Ideological conservatives (don’t want taxes) -Operational liberals (want services)-Policy gridlock -People are to blame because voters put politicians in government-Democracy, Public Opinion, and Political ActionPublic opinion is very important in democracy Representative democracy -Decide who governs Is public fit to choose its leaders?-Chapter 8: Political Parties o8.1-Tasks of the Parties Political Parties - team of men and women with similar interests, seeking to control the government by placing their representatives into office through dually contested elections Linkage institutions -Parties, elections, interest groups, media Tasks that parties perform -Pick candidates -Run campaigns -Give cues to voters -Articulate policies -Coordinate policies -Parties, Voters, and Policy: Downs Model Downsian Model-Argues that winning the election is everything Rational Choice theory -Political scientist Anthony Downs' model Most voters are moderate -Center of political spectrum Parties seek voter loyalty -Position themselves to left and right of center -Need independent voters but must have their base turn out-Wise party selects policy that is widely
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