Conservatism and Liberalism

1
Conservatism and Liberalism

• Any man who is under 30 and is not a liberal has
  no heart, and any man who is over 30 and is not a
  conservative has no brains.---Winston Churchill

Liberalism and Conservatism
2
Politically speaking, what are you? Do you know?

• Are you a conservative?
• Are you a liberal?
• Are you a libertarian?
• Are you a radical?
• Are you a republican?
• Are you a democrat?
• Are you an independent?
• Do you lean to the left or to the right?
• Are you a political slug (a person who doesnt
  care enough about the world around them to pay
  attention to politics)?

3
Conservatism and Liberalism

• Anyone who is under 30, and is not a liberal,
  has no heart. Anyone who is over 30, and is not a
  conservative, has no brains.
• Winston Churchill

4
The Political Spectrum

• Left Center
  Right
• ____________I_______________I______________
  
• Liberal Moderate Conservative
• Most Americans are somewhere in the middle and
  are politically homogeneous. Only a very few are
  on the political fringes.
• Politicians know they can win national elections
  if they attract the large group of moderate
  voters in the middle.

5
Should the US close
down its borders? Should the US give amnesty to
the illegal aliens already here in the US?

• The word Radical is used to describe someone
  who is far to the left or to the
  right.---Anarchist
• Most liberals, not all, vote democrat. Most
  conservatives , not all, are republicans
• Some conservatives are Libertarians and will
  sometimes vote for the Libertarian Party.
  Libertarians believe in a smaller federal
  government and more individual rights.
• (isolationist foreign policy, legalized drugs)
• Some Liberals vote for the Green Party---the
  Green party believes in a strong Federal
  Government that protects the environment and
  provides for economic and social justice.
• It is rather a new idea in American politics that
  most liberals are democrats and most
  conservatives are republicans.

6
It is possible, in fact probable, that a person
may be conservative on one issue and liberal on
another.Ex. Liberal on gun legislation and
conservative on abortion.
7
Republicans and Democrats

• About one third of the American people consider
  themselves a democrat.
• About one third of the American people consider
  themselves a republican.
• About one third of the American people consider
  themselves independent. It is this group that
  decides Presidential elections.
• This can vary a little bit from time to time as
  people become dissatisfied with the party in
  power.

8
Well known Conservatives and Liberals

• Some examples of well known liberals are as
  follows John Kerry, John Edwards, Michael Moore,
  Ralph Nader, Howard Dean, Barbara Streisand,
  Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Al Gore, Ted Kennedy,
  Al Franken
• Some examples of well known conservatives are as
  follows Ronald Reagan, Rush Limbaugh, Bill
  Bennett, Shawn Hannity, Ann Coulter, George
  Allen, Zel Miller, George W. Bush

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Ronald Reagan---the father of the modern
conservative movement
11
Franklin Roosevelt father of the modern Democrat
party
12
Conservatism and Liberalism are defined
differently from nation to nation. What is
liberal in the U.S. may be somewhat conservative
in France.
13
The role of government

• Conservatives believe that the Federal Government
  only does a few things well like national
  defense. They believe that government should be
  limited because that protects individual freedom.
  They believe in personal responsibility rather
  than societal responsibility. However, in certain
  social issues like abortion they want government
  intervention.
• Liberals believe the Federal Government can do
  great things and improve the nation. They believe
  that government should be used as tool to solve
  most of our problems especially in the areas of
  equality and economic justice. (Johnsons Great
  Society and FDRs New Deal)---However, when it
  comes to social issues such as abortion they want
  no government intervention.

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End of Part 1

• Mr. Brian Hill will do part 2

15
Taxes

• Conservatives believe that taxes are a necessary
  evil. They believe that taxes are too high and
• interfere with peoples lives.
• Conservatives believe that people should keep
  more of their money and decide for themselves how
  to use it.
• Liberals believe taxes should be used to even out
  income and provide services for those in need.
• Taxes should be used to bring about social and
  economic justice. Government programs to help
  those who are in needGreat Society of LBJ

16
Using taxes to achieve economic justice

• Conservatives believe to tax the rich at
  extremely high rates would create a society
  where excellence is not rewarded.
• Liberals believe that taxes should be used to
  even out incometax the rich heavily so that
  government can provide more services for the
  poor.
• Moderates try to split the two ideas---tax the
  rich so a certain level of government services
  can be provided for the poor, but not so high as
  to discourage achievement.

17
Military Spending

• Conservatives believe in a strong military and
  are more likely to support large amounts of
  spending for national defense.
• Liberals believe too much is spent on the
  military and more money should be spent on
  programs that help the needy.

18
Use of Military Force

• Conservatives are usually quicker to use American
  military might. Neo-cons believe in policy of
  preemption.
• For the most part Conservatives supported the use
  of force in Afghanistan and in Iraq.
• Libertarians believe in Isolationism
• Liberals are usually slower to commit American
  military might.
• Most liberals, not all, were against the use of
  American military might in Iraq.

19
Education

• Conservatives believe that education is the
  responsibility of state and local government, NOT
  WASHINGTON.
• Schools need to be tested to see if education is
  taking place.
• Teachers should be paid by performance.
• Parents should be able to take back some of their
  tax dollars to use as tuition to send their kids
  to better schools (Vouchers). Bring the Free
  Market system to Education.

20
Liberals and Education

• Liberals believe that the Federal Government
  should play a larger role in education.
• They believe that the voucher system would
  destroy public education by taking away funds
  from poor schools.
• Want a larger investment by the Federal
  government into education.

21
Gay Rights

• Conservatives believe that Gays should not be
  allowed in the military.
• They often believe that the Gay life style is
  wrong or sinful.
• They believe that Homosexuals should not have
  special protection under the law. (no hate crime
  legislation)
• They believe that marriage is between a man and a
  woman and may support a constitutional amendment
  saying so.

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GAY RIGHTS CONTINUED

• Liberals would allow Gays to openly serve in the
  military.
• They believe that laws should be passed
  protecting gays from discrimination.
• Liberals believe that Homosexuality should be an
  accepted lifestyle. What two consenting adults
  do in their own bedroom is nobodys business.
• They often believe in legalization of gay
  marriages or at least creation of civil unions.

24
Race

• Most Conservatives are against Affirmative Action
  Quota systems.
• Almost all Conservatives are against any
  reparations to the families of former slaves.
• Believe in the equality of opportunity not
  outcome.

25
Race Continued

• Many Liberals believe in Affirmative Action Quota
  systems.
• Some Liberals believe in paying reparations to
  families of former slave

26
Death Penalty and Crime

• Conservatives are more supportive of the death
  penalty.
• Conservatives support stiff prison sentences and
  little or no parole.
• Conservatives believe in giving more power to the
  police so that they can catch criminals more
  easily.
• Many conservatives, not all support the Patriot
  Act which made it easier to for the FBI to
  conduct searches.

27
Death Penalty and Crime Continued

• Most Liberals are anti death penalty.
• Liberals believe that more money should be spent
  on rehabilitation and less on incarceration.
• An individuals right to privacy should protect
  them from unjust actions by the police.
• Many liberals, not all, do not support the
  Patriot Act which makes it easier for the FBI to
  search suspected terrorist.

28
Guns and the 2nd. Amendment

• Conservatives believe that the 2nd. Amendment
  protects a persons right to own and carry a gun.
• They believe that People kill not Guns.
• No more laws are needed to limit a persons right
  to own a gun.

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Guns Continued

• Liberals believe that more laws should be passed
  to make it much more difficult to purchase, own,
  and carry a gun.

30
Abortion

• Conservatives are Pro Life or Anti- Abortion.
• Life begins at conception or soon thereafter.
• The fetus should be protected by the
  Constitution.
• Abortion is murder.
• Conservatives feel that at the very least late
  term abortions should be made illegal.

31
Abortion continued

• Liberals are Pro Choice.
• Believe that its a womans right to choose if an
  abortion is the right thing to do, and government
  has no right to interfere.
• Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.
• Many liberals, not all, support a womans right
  to get an abortion in the last three months of a
  pregnancy,

32
Drugs

• Conservatives are against legalization of any
  drugs.
• It is in the best interest of society that laws
  discourage drug use.
• Libertarians believe in smaller government and
  more individual rights to they would legalize
  many drugs that are currently illegal.

33
Liberals on Drugs

• Liberals believe that some or all drugs should be
  legal (especially marijuana).
• Drug laws should be decriminalized.
• People should be sent to rehab centers not prison.

34
Separation of Church and State

• Conservatives believe that prayer and religious
  education should be allowed in public schools.
• Religious education teaches morals, something our
  country desperately needs.
• The founding fathers never intended for church
  and state to be as separate as they have become.

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Church and State Continued

• Liberals believe in a more strict application of
  the doctrine of church and state separation.
• Religious education and prayer should take place
  at home or church, not school.
• Intelligent design and biblical account of
  creation should not be taught in public school.
• Some liberals want God out of pledge (very
  small number)

36
Health Care

• Conservatives believe that Health Insurance
  should be provided by private companies.
• Conservatives believes that the US has the best
  Health Care in the world because our Health Care
  is not controlled by the government.

37
Health Care Continued

• Liberals believe that health care is a right and
  should be provided by Federal/State Government.
• Taxes should be increased to provide health care
  for those who can not afford it.
• Liberals point to socialized medicine in Canada
  and France as an example of how things should be
  here in the US.

38
Minimum Wage

• Conservatives believe that the minimum wage
  should go up gradually, and in small amounts.
• Believe that if you raise the minimum wage to
  quickly, or by large amounts, you will hurt small
  businesses who provide jobs.

39
Minimum Wage continued

• Liberals believe that the minimum wage should be
  increased quickly and by a large amount.
• By increasing the minimum wage you would help the
  working poor.

40
The role of the Judiciary (Courts)

• Conservatives believe in Judicial Restraintthe
  role of the courts is to interpret existing law
  not make new law.
• The Court should avoid taking the initiative on
  social and political questions---Thats the job
  of the Executive and Legislative Branches.

41
Judiciary Continued

• Liberals believe that the court should take an
  active role in shaping national policy.
• The Court should boldly apply the Constitution to
  pressing social and political questions.
• Liberals point to Roe V. Wade as an example of
  how the Court should lead on important issues to
  the nation.

42
Immigration

• Conservatives believe that immigration should be
  limited and our borders should be sealed.
• Conservatives believe that illegal aliens should
  be arrested and deported.
• Conservatives would point out that it cost
  billions of dollars of tax payer dollars to help
  many who are poor, and illegally immigrate to the
  US.

43
Immigration continued

• Liberals are more concerned with human rights
  therefore they would not be as restrictive on
  immigration as conservatives.
• Liberals would point out that all immigrant
  groups have added something positive to this
  country.
• Immigrants take jobs that no one else want
  (picking veggies in Ca.)
• Most Liberals would support amnesty to all
  illegal immigrants in the US.

44
Environment Conservatives believe that
the environment is important but not at the
expense of jobs. They are less likely to believe
in global warming. They believe that liberals
have sometimes gone too far in the name of
protecting the environment and have caused
economic losses to farmers, the timber industry,
the energy industry. Higher gas prices.
45
Liberals and the Environment

• Industries should be fined heavily if the pollute
  the air or water.
• The government should protect wildlife and
  wilderness areas.
• Heavy taxes should be put on gasoline to
  discourage people from buying cars that get poor
  gas mileage.
• The US needs to cut its pollutants by a large
  margin in order to prevent global warming.

46
Views on Capitalism

• Conservatives believe in the free market and
  think that government should not over regulate
  businesses and industry (laissez faire). Ex. They
  would oppose a tax on oil company profits.
  Conservatives want open markets and an expansion
  of Capitalism world wide.
• Liberals believe that the free market has flaws
  and needs government regulation. Often liberals
  want to regulate business and industry. Many
  liberals supported a special tax on oil company
  profits. Liberals often are not supportive of
  open markets and feel that a mix of Socialism and
  Capitalism should be expanded world wide.

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New Unit begins here
48
Political Parties in U.S.

• What is a political party?
• A group of persons who seek to control government
  through winning elections and the holding of
  public office.
• The United States Constitution makes no mention
  of political parties.
• George Washington warned the nation against the
  creation of political parties in his 1796
  Farewell Address.
• Many European nations have multiple parties. For
  example the United Kingdom has three, Italy has
  five.

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What do Political parties do?

• Nomination of candidates
• Informing and activating supporters
• GoverningCongress and State legislatures are
  organized by political party.
• Watchdog functioncriticize policies and behavior
  of other party.
• Raise moneyhelp candidates in their party

50
American Two Party system

• Rooted in the argument over the ratification of
  the Constitution.
• Federalist were led by Alexander Hamilton and
  John Adams----represented rich and well born
• Anti-Federalist were led by Thomas
  Jefferson---represented common man.
  Anti-Federalist were also called Jeffersonian
  Republicans or Democratic Republicans---by 1828
  they were referred to as Democrats.
• By 1816 the Democratic Republicans were almost
  unopposed in national politics.

51
Short lived Whig party

• Whig party was created in 1820s out of people
  who were dissatisfied with Democrats.
• Whig party successful in electing only two
  Presidents. (1840, 1848)
• Republican Party founded in 1854. Made up of
  Whigs and anti-slavery Democrats.
• First Republican elected---Abraham Lincoln 1860.
  Today the Republican Party is also nicknamed the
  Grand Old Party or GOP.

52
Party domination by era

• 1800-1860---Democrats win 13 out of 15
  Presidential elections.
• 1860-1932---Republicans win 14 out of 18
  Presidential elections.
• 1932-1968---Democrats win 7 out of 9 Presidential
  elections.
• 1968-2004 ?????Republicans win 7 out of 10
  Presidential elections.

53
Review

• Define political party.
• What does the Constitution say about political
  parties?
• What did Washington say about political parties?
• Do all democratic nations have the Two Party
  System?
• List 5 functions of a political party in the U.S.

54
Review Continued

• What were the first two political parties in the
  U.S. and what caused their creation?
• By 1816 which political party was almost
  unopposed in national politics?
• What short lived party was created in the 1820s
  from dissatisfied democrats?
• Who was the first Republican elected President?
  When?
• What is the nickname of the Republican Party
  today?
• Which political party dominated the following
  eras? 1800-1860? 1860-1932? 1932-1968? 1968-2004
  ?

55
The American Two Party System

• The two major political parties in the US are
  coalitions or unions of many persons of different
  interest groups.
• Democrats---African Americans, Labor Unions,
  Hispanics, Women, Jews, the northeast and far
  west, big cities, and people whose income is
  below the national average.
• Republicans---White males, the south and central
  west, business owners, Southern Baptist, small
  towns, rural areas, and suburban America.

56
Third or Minor Parties

• No third party has ever won a Presidential
  Election in the US.
• Third parties have however influenced the outcome
  of elections by taking away votes from one of the
  two major candidates. (EX. The Bull Moose Party
  of Teddy Roosevelt and the Green Party of Ralph
  Nader)

57
Some Minor Parties in the US today

• Socialist and Communist Party of
  America---believe that the Free Market System is
  corrupt and should be destroyed. They believe the
  government should control all the major
  businesses and industry in the US.

58
Minor Parties Continued

• Libertarian---believe that the government should
  be less involved in peoples lives. They believe
  that the least amount of government is the best
  government. They would believe in legalization of
  many drugs.

59
Minor Parties Continued

• Green Party ---relatively new party. Its major
  concerns are the preservation of the environment,
  nonviolence, and economic justice.
• Ralph Nader was the Green Party candidate for
  President in 2000. He did not carry a state, but
  did get millions of votes that would have
  probably gone to Gore if Nader had not run.

60
Presidential Elections

• Most Presidential candidates try to appeal to the
  most voters possible---this means they try to not
  be portrayed as too liberal or too conservative.
• The truth is that no matter who winner is their
  ability to make good on campaign promises will be
  limited by the Congress, the Courts, the states,
  and public opinion.

61
Review

• List three major groups that seem to vote
  democrat. republican.
• What party believes in the least amount of
  government possible?
• What party is based on environmental concerns?
• What party is opposed to Capitalism and wants
  its destruction?
• Who was the Presidential Candidate for the Green
  Party in 2000?
• What was the name of the Third party that Teddy
  Roosevelt created to run for President in 1912?
  How did he do?

62
Electing a President

• New Unit starts here

63
Nominating a Presidential Candidate

• Each party must first pick who their candidate
  for President will be. Today this is done through
  a Primary System.
• A Primary is an election within a state, where
  citizens get to choose who they favor as the
  democrat or republican candidate. These elections
  take place in many states nation wide and
  determines which delegates get to attend the
  national conventions.
• The candidates are officially selected at the
  republican and democrat conventions

64
Possible 2008 Candidates

• Republican Mitch Romney (Governor of Mass.),
  George Allen (Senator from Va.), Rudy Guilano
  (former Mayor of New York),
• John McCain (Senator from Arizona)
• Democrat Hillary Clinton (Senator from N.Y.),
  Evan Baye (Senator from Indiana), Joseph Biden
  (Senator from Delaware), Mark Warner (Governor of
  Va.), Mark Richardson (Governor of New Mexico),
  John Kerry (Senator from Mass.)

65
Electoral College

• The electoral college system which is used to
  select our President was included in the
  Constitution as a compromise between those who
  wanted the people to directly elect the President
  and those who wanted the Congress to choose the
  President.
• It allows for each candidate, with the help of
  their political party, to select a certain number
  of electors to represent them in each state.
• The popular vote within the state determines
  which group of electors will vote for that state.
• The popular election is in November. The electors
  travel to the capital of their state to vote in
  December. The electoral votes are counted by the
  President of the Senate before a joint session of
  Congress on January 6. The new President is
  sworn in January 20.

66
Electoral College

• There are a total of 538 electoral votes.
• You can determine the number of electoral votes a
  state is entitled by adding the number of
  representatives to their number of Senators.
  (x2ev), (Remember each state has 2 Senators).
  The result of this formula is that states with
  more population have more electoral votes.
• It takes 270 to win---If no candidate receives
  270 then the election is decided in the House of
  Representatives with each state receiving one
  vote.
• Each state and Washington D.C.(23rd Amendment)
  are guaranteed at least 3.
• California has 55, Virginia 13, Wyoming 3
• The Presidential election is actually 51 separate
  Presidential elections. One in each state and
  D.C.
• States determine how to conduct the Presidential
  election within their state.( Bush v. Gore-2000)
• It is possible to win the popular vote and lose
  the electoral vote---Just ask Al Gore.

67
Electoral College and 2004 vote
68
The Election of 1800 and the 12th. Amendment

• The system by which we elected the President and
  Vice President broke down in the election of
  1800.
• Jefferson and Burr tied for the Presidency (73
  electoral votes each) when the intent was
  Jefferson to be President and Burr to be Vice
  President.
• The House of Representatives had to decide the
  election and after 36 ballots Jefferson was
  elected President.

69
The election of 1800 and the 12th Amendment
continued

• The 12th Amendment was added to the Constitution
  in 1804.
• Electors shall cast one vote for President and a
  separate vote for Vice President.
• In 2000 and 2004 Virginias electors cast 13 votes
  for George W. Bush for President and then cast 13
  votes for Dick Cheney for Vice President.

70
Other Close calls

• 1824---Andrew Jackson won a plurality, but not a
  majority of the popular and electoral votes. The
  House chose John Quincy Adams as President.
• 1876---Samuel Tilden won the popular vote
  4,288,546 to 4,034,311 over Rutherford B. Hayes.
  However, Hayes won the electoral vote 185 to 184.
  (This was the most disputed Presidential election
  in American history until the Presidential
  election of 2000)

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Close calls continued

• 1888Grover Cleveland won the popular vote by
  90,596 over Benjamin Harrison. Harrison, however,
  won the electoral vote 233 to 168.
• 2000----Al Gore won the popular vote by 537,179
  over George W. Bush. Bush won the electoral
  college 271-266.
• Bush won the 2000 election because he carried
  Florida by 537 votes after 6 million votes were
  cast in that state. After the first recount Bush
  was still leading. At that point Gore asked the
  Florida courts to order another recount by hand
  in certain counties.
• The Supreme Court of the United States voted 5-4
  to end all recounting of votes in that election
  effectively allowing the first recount to become
  official.

72
2004 election

• Bush received 50.7 of the 122,293,332 votes
  cast. Kerry received 48.3.
• Other Presidential candidates Nader American
  Independent Party ,Badnarik Libertarian Party
  Peroutka Constitution party Cobb Green Party.
  Total from all four was 1 of vote.
• Bush received 286 electoral votes----Kerry 251
  one vote was cast for John Edwards.
• Ohio was the key state which was won by Bush
  2,796,147 to 2,659,664 a difference of 136,483
  votes

73
Electoral politics

• The 2000 and 2004 elections were decided by a
  small percentage of voters in a few Battle
  Ground StatesOhio, Florida.
• We already know how most of the states will
  vote---Southern states will probably vote
  Republican---Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi
• Northeastern states will probably vote
  Democrat-New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
  Connecticut
• Will this be true again in 2008?

74
What about Virginia???

• Virginia has not voted for a democrat for
  President since 1964Lyndon B. Johnson
• Bush carried Virginia fairly easily in 2000 and
  again in 2004.
• However, Virginia has elected two democrats in a
  row as Governor (Warner and Kaine)
• As the makeup of Northern Virginia changes, it
  might become a democrat strong hold and change
  the entire political make-up of the state.

75
Review

• Why was electoral college system included in the
  Constitution?
• What does the popular vote within a state
  determine?
• When do electors vote? Who counts the vote?
• How many total electors are there nationwide? Has
  it always been this number?
• What is the mathematical formula for determining
  the number of electoral votes for each state?
• In 2008 how many electoral votes will it take to
  win the Presidency?
• What is a Primary? What is an Open Primary? What
  is a Closed Primary?
• Who are two democrats and two republicans who may
  be the Presidential candidate for their party in
  2008?

76
Review continued

• If no candidate receives the required electoral
  votes, how is the election decided?
• What is the least amount of electoral votes a
  state can have?
• How many electoral votes does Virginia have?
  California? Wyoming? D.C.?
• What level of government determines how
  Presidential elections are conducted in each
  state?
• Is it possible to win the popular vote and still
  lose the election?
• Which election caused the creation of the 12th
  Amendment? Why?

77
Review continued

• Which state determined the final outcome of the
  2000 election?
• What did the Supreme Court rule in the 2000 Bush
  v. Gore case? What was the vote? Do you agree?
• List 4 Presidential elections where the popular
  vote winner lost the election.
• Which state was the determining factor in the
  2004 election?
• When was the last time Virginia voted for a
  democrat for President? Who?