POLS 206 Lecture 10Outline of Previous Lecture-Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Action o6.1American Melting Pot Regional ShiftGraying of America o6.2Process of Political Socialization Political Learning Over a Lifetimeo6.3How Polls are Conducted Role of Polls in American DemocracyOutline of Current LectureWhat Polls Reveal About Americans Political InformationDecline of Trust in Governmento6.4Do People Think in Ideological Terms o6.5How Americans Participate in Politicso6.6Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government Democracy, Public Opinion and Political Action-Chapter 8: Political Parties o8.1Task of PartiesParties, 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 crisisIs 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, warClass, 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 ActionPublic 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