I. Ideology and Public Policy
A. Liberalism
1. Two types
a. classic liberalism
b. contemporary
2. FDR/ New
Deal Programs
3. Liberals
generally believe in:
a. progressive tax
b. rights of unions to form
c. possibility of progress
d. compassion (by government)
e. equal opportunity (regardless of wealth)
f. affirmative action
4. Types of
Liberals:
a. New Deal Liberals
b. neoliberals
5. Criticisms
of liberalism
a. relies too much on big government
b. higher taxes needed
c. govt. replaces self-reliance/ power corrupts government
d. liberalism "out of favor"
(Bush: "that L-word") - Clinton v. Bush (1992)
6. Major theme
of 1990's politics: economic or cultural divisions
B. Conservatism (rooted in J. Adams,
Hamilton)
1. Original
conservatives believed in limited govt., personal achievement
2. Conservatives
desire "smaller" govt. (except in defense)
3. Take pessimistic/
realistic view of human nature
a. most people require strong leadership institutions, providing law &
order
b. those who fail are responsible
c. opposed New Deal, War on Poverty
d. charities, not govt., should supplement human needs
4. Traditional
Conservatives beliefs include:
a. faith in private sector
b. dislike big, intrusive government
c. govt.'s purpose is to "maintain the framework of order"
d. welfare should be a private concern (Goldwater)
e. pro-business-- oppose higher taxes on profits
f. Govt. should promote family values, protect citizens, preserve law &
order, encourage competitive trade & free markets
5. The New
Right/ Radical Right --
a. favors public prayer in school
b. supports CIA covert operations
c. opposes abortion, busing, quotas, porn
d. New Right- wants to include social controls. (Religious Right is key
in this movement- Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell)
- Sen. Jesse Helms (R- N.C.)
f. too moralistic?
6. Neoconservatives
a. many former Democrats; Vietnam, busing, Warren court drove them away
b. "keep programs that work" (Head Start), but others (paternalistic state)
c. favor larger military expenditures; U.S. as mediator for world conflicts
d. tough on crime; pro-death penalty
e. "Reaganomics"/ supply-side economics
7. Criticisms
of Conservatism
a. "selectively opposed" to government
b. insensitivity to social needs (homeless)
c. too much faith in market economy; ignore harsh reality that market leaves
some people behind
d. apathy toward regulation led to S&L crisis
e. favor the rich
f. fail to deal with racism, sexism (historically against civil rights
law)