american political culture why don’t people shoot george w. bush? why don’t people shoot george...
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American Political CultureAmerican Political Culture
Why don’t people shoot George W. Why don’t people shoot George W. Bush?Bush?
Why do we pay taxes?Why do we pay taxes? Why don’t we take to the streets of Why don’t we take to the streets of
Seattle to protest Microsoft?Seattle to protest Microsoft?
Definition of Political Definition of Political CultureCulture
a set of norms, beliefs, traditions, a set of norms, beliefs, traditions, and values oriented toward the and values oriented toward the political system that are for the political system that are for the most part shared by the society most part shared by the society and are relatively unique to a and are relatively unique to a political systempolitical system
Tenets of Classical Tenets of Classical LiberalismLiberalism
Individual have natural rights Individual have natural rights Individuals are equal under the law Individuals are equal under the law Government should be limited Government should be limited Government's #1 purpose is to Government's #1 purpose is to
serve individuals serve individuals
Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence
All men are created equalAll men are created equal Endowed with certain inalienable Endowed with certain inalienable
rights, life liberty pursuit of rights, life liberty pursuit of happinesshappiness
Government derives “their just Government derives “their just powers from the consent of the powers from the consent of the governedgoverned
Quick SurveyQuick Survey
1.1. It is the responsibility of the state to take It is the responsibility of the state to take care of poor people who can’t take care of care of poor people who can’t take care of themselves. themselves.
2.2. People like me and my family have a good People like me and my family have a good chance of improving our standard of living. chance of improving our standard of living.
3.3. Govt should reduce income inequality.Govt should reduce income inequality.4.4. Government should provide all Americans Government should provide all Americans
with a guaranteed income.with a guaranteed income.5.5. Luck is more important than hard work in Luck is more important than hard work in
getting ahead.getting ahead.
LibertyLiberty
Americans emphasize individual Americans emphasize individual responsibilityresponsibility
People believe hard work pays offPeople believe hard work pays off
Percentages saying they completely agree with the statement: "It is the responsibility of the state to
take care of very poor people who can't take care of themselves."
0 20 40 60 80
US
Hungary
France
Italy
Bulgaria
Series1
Percentage saying they agree with the statement: "The way things are in my country, people like me
and my family have a good chance of improving our standard of living."
7261
45 40 37 36
020406080
% of people by income group who agree that 1. govt should reduce income inequality, 2. provide a guar.
income, 3. Luck>hard work in getting ahead
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1 2 3
$12k <
$12-40k
$40k+
80
66 6553
4839
6958
66
43 48
34
0102030405060708090
Italy Germany Britain Sweden Canada UnitedStates
Government Should reduce income inequality (% agreeing)
Government shuld guarantee a basic income (% agreeing)
82 8165 64 61
44 4329
0102030405060708090
Italy
Austri
a
Nether
lands
Britain
Germ
any
Austra
lia
Switzer
land
United S
tate
s
It is the responsibility of government to reduce the differences in income betweenpeople with high incomes and those with low incomes (% who agree)
7166 62 62
45
23
01020304050607080
Spain Italy Britain France Germany UnitedStates
It is the responsibility of the government to take care of very poor people whocannot take care of themselves (% who complete agree)
EqualityEquality
Americans have a strong commitment Americans have a strong commitment to legal, social and political equality.to legal, social and political equality.
Not equality of outcomesNot equality of outcomes or economic or economic equalityequality
Public Support for Affirmative ActionPublic Support for Affirmative Action Equality more of a “contested” Equality more of a “contested”
conceptconcept
I’m a liberal, you’re a liberal, I’m a liberal, you’re a liberal, wouldn’t you like to be a liberal wouldn’t you like to be a liberal too?too?
LiberalismLiberalism Individual liberty is primaryIndividual liberty is primary Government should be limitedGovernment should be limited
Conservatives/Liberals, R/Ds agreeConservatives/Liberals, R/Ds agree Debate over when government should Debate over when government should
intervene in private affairsintervene in private affairs Liberals- lower standard on economic issuesLiberals- lower standard on economic issues Conservatives- lower standard on social Conservatives- lower standard on social
issuesissues
Traditional ExplanationsTraditional Explanations
no feudal aristocracy—no landed no feudal aristocracy—no landed aristocracy to provide a aristocracy to provide a conservative viewconservative view
minimal taxesminimal taxes few legal restraintsfew legal restraints frontier provides opportunities—frontier provides opportunities—
easy for ambitious individuals to easy for ambitious individuals to succeedsucceed
nation of small indep farmersnation of small indep farmers
Tocqueville’s VisionTocqueville’s Vision
Frontier and widespread property Frontier and widespread property ownershipownership
Life characterized by atomistic social Life characterized by atomistic social freedom freedom
Do not need strong state or class Do not need strong state or class movement to create upward mobilitymovement to create upward mobility
New world creates faith in New world creates faith in individualismindividualism
Other theoriesOther theories
Limited governmentLimited government Self-selectionSelf-selection SocializationSocialization Bias of capitalismBias of capitalism
Total Govt Outlays as a Percentage of GDP
34
.7
26
.8
36
.2
44
.4
38
.5 43
.7 48
.4
41
.6
43
.4 48
.4
36
.7
31
.6
39
.5 44 45
.3 49
.2
47 5
0.9
52
.1
63
.3
33
.3 35
.6 40
.8 43
.4 46
.2 48
.7
49
.5 51
.9
53
.7
66
.2
303540455055606570
Un
ited
Sta
tes
Jap
an
All
OE
CD
Na
tion
s
Bri
tain
Ca
nd
a
Eu
rop
ea
nO
EC
Dn
atio
ns
Ge
rma
ny
Italy
Fra
nce
Sw
ed
en
1975 1985 1995
Values Shape Policy Values Shape Policy OutcomesOutcomes
Social Expenditures in Some OECD Countries
13.1 14.3
18 17.5
24.6
21.2
24.7
12.414.4
16.9
20.222
26.3 26.7
10
15
20
25
30
UnitedStates
Japan Britain Canada Germany Italy France
1980 1990
7064 62 60
52 5147
41
30354045505560657075
United S
tate
s
Austra
liaIta
ly
Nether
lands
Germ
any
Switzer
land
Austri
a
United K
ingdom
% who agree that taxes are much too high or too high
Values Shape Policy Values Shape Policy OutcomesOutcomes
Clinton Health Care PlanClinton Health Care Plan large government operationlarge government operation remove control from the marketremove control from the market restrict the choices of individuals restrict the choices of individuals Promote equality of outcomesPromote equality of outcomes
Program conflicted with basic valuesProgram conflicted with basic values--Bush Social Security Privativation--Bush Social Security Privativation
Public Support for Greater Govt Public Support for Greater Govt Role in Health Care IndustryRole in Health Care Industry
80%74%
67% 63% 66.70%61.30%
75%
0%10%
20%30%
40%50%
60%70%
80%90%
1937 1942 1961 1965 1976 1978 1992
% expressing support for increasing government role in health care delivery*