Classical Liberalism: A History of Freedom from Government Control

- basic premise:govt. should play a minimal role in society and should permit maximum economic freedom for the individual. - history: starts from the Industrial Revolution (roots of it are in 1700s); it is the attempt of the middle class to free itself from the king and nobles (freedom from a government controlled by the king and nobles) -main features: minimal govt. and protection of property rights -human nature: humans are rational, capable, and can take care of ourselves (self-interested) -market: central place in this ideology;arena for competition, when you are competing with others, are motivated to bring your best game; when you are functioning at your highest capacity, society is best it could possibly be; self-regulating market, so we do not need govt. to regulate; Adam Smith: invisible hand guides society/through this trial and error, an indiv. will find their "niche" -govt.: don't need govt. to rule us; can help keep market open and functioning; govt. cannot restrict your freedoms in any way -edu: market place of ideas; increase potential; total intellectual freedom -welfare: no role for govt. to step in and provide welfare for citizens; no one is responsible for you except you -who rules?:The most important thing government does is regulate private property, so private property owners should be the ones taking part in this very limited government -criticisms: ppl may not reach full potential; everyone does not have fair start; no consumer protection; market will not produce everything that is needed, but things that people can pay for (you have to produce something that will sell)

free market/deregulation (stop regulating the market so much); too many government laws, cut them out make govt. simpler; cut back on welfare, cut/reduce taxes; pro-military budget, pro defense spending, pro international engagement (strong military presence and engagement)

- basic premise: defends traditional conservative and social practices - history: reaction to classical liberalism -main features: argues that we are born very different, we are really different people, and when it comes to freedom vs. authority, authority does not hurt; this ideology is a reaction of people who have a standing and stake in society -human nature: people are not rational, capable, or self- interested (they are weak, sinful, lazy, "hedons" at their core; most of us don't have personal character; society gets all out of whack when you mix up things/interchange people's roles in society -market: life can't just be about making money; there has to be something about the way you live your life that counts, not just about making money -govt.: oligarcy; strict govt. to instill wisdom, values, and morality (estab. political/social institutions that will bring out our strengths and limit our weaknesses; much more active govt. role; regulations protect us from our own selves in certain areas -edu: education should only put important ideas out there; you should teach values/ethics/morals in school (teach how to behave) -welfare: a good person will take care of others; ppl. should contribute to other people; govt. has role for welfare, but welfare should be reserved for the deserving poor -who rules?: elites with personal character, mass democracy is bad idea, oligarchy or elite rule (most ppl aren't qualified to make decisions for themselves let along others, good govt. is made up of good people -criticisms: limiting what should be taught, what are goods ideas or bad ideas, no innovation, who gets to decide what are the right morals/values, we all have our own values, elitist system that perpetuates inequality, stifles progress of science (i.e- stem cell research)

more government involvement (concerned about gay marriage, abortion, war on drugs(no legalization and pot), religious liberty/Christian nation

- basic premise:similar but more intense than classical liberalism; absolute right of individual to be free, but that freedom is not only from the government, but also free from society (individualistic ideology); see the state as the greatest threat to human liberty - history:comes out of Industrial Revolution -main features: minimal govt, protection of property rights and freedom of individuals; no govt. regulation of economy; non-interventionist foreign policy; drastic reduction in defense spending -human nature: we are all very different; in a sense that makes us equal, people should not have power over one another because they cannot handle it, and people have different strengths/weaknesses -market: absolutely free, only limits on market: what happens between buyer and seller, we cannot decide for each other so we shouldn't -govt.: only makes things worse, minimize govt., shrink it down to tiny, can only protect people and property from physical harm -edu: free marketplace of ideas, curriculum an abuse of power, behind school choice and school vouchers -welfare: no role, freest system and nobody interfering with you, your inequality is a result of you own actions and choices -who rules?: decentralized small groups making the fewest decisions possible -criticisms: fate not totally in your control, don't get where you are all by yourself, we have obligation to benefit from community and take part in things that make community good

pro-gun (antigun control), free markets (cut back regulation), lower taxes, cut welfare, freedom of choice (prochoice, minimize govt. pro legalization of marijuana, isolationist); cut military budget size of military, school vouchers, school choice

classical liberalism, traditional conservatism, libertarian

- basic premise: - history: -main features: -human nature: humans are rational and self centered but capable of compassion -market: a politically or economically important person should collect goods and services from members of society and reallocate them among society's members; believe in equality of opportunity; authority should be used to support free trade -govt.: should facilitate redistribution -edu: -welfare: recognizes deep economic and social cleavages a laissez faire economic system generates, and seeks to eliminate them; it accepts that the state has a humanitarian function to care for its disadvantaged citizens, and seeks to use the state to modify the market system to reduce social and economic inequalities -who rules?: the state to provide the common good -criticisms:

support for welfare state and social programs, forgive student debt, some tax hikes, diplomacy over invasion (ex: negotiating the Iran Nuclear Deal)

- basic premise: major industries are owned by a democratically elected govt. responsible for planning and directing the economy; economic equality is essential idea - history: -main features: public ownership of basic industries, banks, agricutltural enterprises, and communications systems, wage and price controls, redistribution of wealth to achieve true economic equality, expanded welfare programs -human nature: focus on the good of the whole society and envision a system under which all people will be equal economically and politically; see the state as the greatest hope for human equality -market: -govt.: extensive govt. regulation of economy; govt. ownership and control of major industries, utilities, and transportation systems -edu: -welfare: welfare system that guarantees all persons decent healthcare, an education, and adequate food and shelter -who rules?: -criticisms:

higher edu. is public responsibility, domestic over international focus (hesitant to do armed military engagement), protection of social security and medicare, or even increasing protection and increasing payments to seniors; greater regulation of business and the market, support for public transportation

seek to influence public policy by placing its own members in positions of governmental authority. socialization functions, electoral functions, govt. functions

the ways in which parties, by seeking to win elections, help to socialize voters into politicians and form public opinion

the ways in which parties, by seeking to win elections, help to bring order to campaigns and elections

the ways in which parties, by seeking to win elections, help to organize the government, give coherence to public policy, and make government responsible to the people

one of the three components or distinguishable sectors of a political party, the party as embodied in those of its members who have been elected r appointed to public office, the organizations they establish, and the leaders they choose to help them carry out their work

one of the three components or distinguishable sectors of a political party, it is the official structure of a political party and includes people who officially belong to it, elected and appointed officers, a committees.

the individual citizens throughout the country who identify with a political party

political parties wish they had more influence (ie- the Republicans are worried that either Trump or Carson could be the final nominees, but they cannot do anything about it)

Presidential candidate- whoever ends up being the nominee will bring in his ideas which will contribute to the party platform; events of the times (candidates have to respond to the events of the times); biggest predictor of party platforms: party ideologies

a broad statement of the philosophy under which a party's candidates run for election

preliminary election in which a party picks delegates to a party convention or its candidates for public office; intraparty elections in which a political party selects the candidates it will run for office in the final inter party general election which is the election to choose the candidates who will hold office - open primary: any voter regardless of party affiliation can participate -closed primary: members of the party holding the election are allowed to participate

quickly sort out the field into contenders and also-rans;a hard fought primary is detrimental to a party's chance of a victory in the coming fall. Supporters disillusioned with their candidates' defeat might be reluctant to vote for the nominee in the coming November election.

issues that every American is for and every candidate is in favor of; used to distract the electorate (ex: "I'm for better jobs, I'm for a strong America, I'm for education); designed to draw you in as a viewer, without going into all the details; people should keep in mind that there are varying viewpoints with regard to one subject they are for, such as education

(1932-1980) -FDR -broad and huge -unites who segments of society in ways that they have never been united before -reform liberalism emerges during this time -new deal is all about assistance, regulation, etc. -democratic party clearly becomes party of reform liberalism -New Deal Coaltion falls apart (60s and 70s): voters unhappy over Vietnam war, oil crises sent inflation and unemployment through the roof, all traditional canseen economics are not working

Catholics, Protestants, union members, the poor, urban dwellers, factory workers, southerners, African Americans who can vote

reform liberalism (assistance, regulation, uniting segments of society)

-starts with election of Reagan in 1980 -creats New Federalism (seals the deal for southerners who are for state's rights) - at this point, republican party is comprised of traditional conservatives and classical liberals - Combination of economic and social conservatives, religious fundamentalists, and defense-minded anti-communists who rallied behind Republican President Ronald Reagan.

while New Deal Coalition falls apart, Republicans use golden opportunity of Democrat party falling apart -they try to figure out how to pick up new voters, so they turn to the south, who are solidly democrat -they seek the angry democrats in the south (angry about Vietnam War, the economy, the Civil Rights movement, the Civil Rights Act, and integration of schools -Republican party creates "southern strategy" to pick up southern voters - Roe v. Wade helps Republicans: religious people most upset about Roe v. Wade and most religious people are in the south, so Republicans put things in their party platform to bring in the Traditional Conservatives -election of Ronald Reagan (no longer a dominance of Democrats)

- realignment: major change in the pattern of support for political parties and the important issues on which that pattern of support is based - dealignment: period during which the partisan ties of the public diminish and the party system breaks down

Division into two opposite positions

-bill clinton launches campaign for the new democrats -the idea is the party is going to push or pull itself closer to pick up some of these kinds of voters (the voters in the center) -they cut social security and medicare - the further the democrats move towards the right, the left winged people are not happy (those who are committed to social justice) -Democrat's dilemma - how are we going to make the extremes happy while making the people in the center happy

-there is a significant portion of eligible voters but not registered to vote - lower voter turnout -institutions of our voter registration system: affect who registers to vote -elite perspective: if you can't figure out how to vote, why should you -mass perspective: you are disenfranchising people to vote

single member plurality; U.S. and U.K. have this type of electoral college; entire country divided into districts - each district sends 1 and only 1 member of that district to Congress -what member? - one with majority of votes (majoritarian system)

- increases constituency service (your constituents are your voters) - decreases party discipline - creates a 2-party system

-some may say 1 member does not fully represent the whole district and with PR, there are multiple representatives sent to Congress - how many seats: depends on where you are -when you go to vote: there aren't any names on the ballot, when you get the ballot, there are just names of political parties -afterwards, they tally up the vote totals and divide the seats according to the proportion of vote that you got (ex: 40% of vote is Republican, so Republicans get 4 out of 10 seats in Congress -who gets to sit on these seats: each political party has list of representatives from political parties (party leaders get to choose which member of political party get to sit in Congress)

-decreases constituency service (people don't vote for members, so he/she has no obligation to vote for citizens) -increases party discipline (i.e.- John sits in Congress because he was chosen by party leader) -creates a multiparty system

- manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class. -it is found in SMP -it does not work in PR, because in theory, you only need 1% of the vote

institution that was established by the Constitution for electing the president and vice president; electors chosen by the voters actually elect the president and vice president; each state has a number of electors equal to the total number of its senators and representatives, while the District of Columbia has three electors (under 23h amendment)

-the framers of the Constitution were afraid of what would happen in a mass democracy - the were worried about handing major decisions to the masses - democracy is a fair process, but not a wise process - framers did not want the masses to destroy what they had build -the electoral college was designed to insulate/protect the selection of the president from the whims of the people

-it is composed of electors - there are 538 voters (amount of electoral votes is based on the population of the states) -E.C. votes = # of H. of R. + # of Senators -the total # for the president to be elected: 270 (1st one to get to 270 votes) -constitutionally, electors are not bound to vote for certain party -the purpose of E.C. to save us from our poor choices

- it ends up distorting democracy - Ex: Gore won popular vote with 500,000 more votes than Bush, but Bush won with 271 electoral votes

-to get rid of E.C. you have to have a Constitutional amendment (and those are so hard) - may be protecting us from voter fraud

270 electoral votes

purple states: "battleground states": sometimes they are Republican, sometimes they are Democrat (candidates/parties spend the most time here)

- Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio are swing states

the cumulative sum of government budget deficits minus budget surplus - budget deficit: amount the government overspends in a year -U.S. national debt is 18 trillion

-war (war drives up debt big time) -recession ( caused debt because less spending and gap shrinks during a recession; so debt to income ratio is larger) -government ends up taking a pay cut during recession, but still has the same bills -ex: after 1932, government is screwed because of all kinds of spending under New Deal, govt. income drops and government spending goes up

-productivity -taxes (not equal to our spending pattern) - political incentives (most of electorate doesn't know what the debt is, they just notice when their taxes are going up)

-govt. still has to pay its bills, even though it overspends and runs out of money (so they take loan with interest, which digs govt. deeper into debt) - money comes from international loans (end up owing to many countries) -U.S. could not conduct an independent foreign policy if they are dependent on others to finance

-cutting back on the lifestyle (raise taxes, reducing benefits, cut social programs (Austerity measures) ; Americans don't like painful choices -grow your way out of debt (increase the GDP) -strategies to grow your way out of debt (lifestyle changes, cutting tax loopholes that allow for deductions, raise revenue, cut down on corporate tax returns

governmental decisions about taxing and spending that affect the economic life of a nation

government decisions about how much money should circulate in the economy and what the cost of borrowing money, the interest rate, should be

legislation that fundamentally changed budget deficit reduction efforts from the focus on deficit targets contained in Gramm-Rodman-Hollings to a focus on ceilings or caps on specific categories of spending

law passed in 2010 that requires budget increases to be offset by either reductions elsewhere or increased revenues.