FREEDOM, ORDER, OR EQUALITY?

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Scenario 1

Do you believe more in freedom, order, or equality? Write a paragraph (at least 5 sentences) explaining your answer.

You need to do this in your portfolio (notebook). You will have at least 2 scenarios per chapter. Put the scenarios on the same page in that chapter of your portfolio.

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Portfolio Information Graded on:

Scenario paragraphs (minimum 5 sentences each)

Chapter Assignment Notes – you must take at least some

notes each day of lecture. Write down the most important things you need to remember/study

Other Turn in on test day 3

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Chapter 1 Scenario 2:

Read Page 3-4. Should Government spend billions on bailouts when taxpayers bear the burden?

The Purpose of This Text

To explain the workings of government

To enable students to evaluate policy decisions and relationships Politics at home and abroad Individual freedoms vs. personal

security Individual freedom vs. social

equality5

Introduction Do you like being told what to do? Do you like being coerced into acting

a certain way? Billions of people accept power of

government…what side of road to drive, what constitutes a contract, how to dispose of waste, taxes, etc.

Why???6

Government

Organization using legitimate use of force (including firearms, imprisonment, and

execution) within specified geographical boundaries to control human behavior.

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The Globalization of American Government

Concept of government has evolved Initially territorial in nature Idea of national sovereignty

Is U.S. sovereignty threatened by globalization (interdependence of nations across the world)? International Criminal Court

(soldiers/death penalty)

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Which is better?? To live under a government that

fiercely protects individual freedom OR one protecting against physical/economic threats?

To let all citizens keep same share of income or to tax wealthier people more to fund programs for the poor?

(Discuss with your __ partner)9

The Globalization of Nations

Citizens and nations differ in degree of globalization

KOF study places U.S. at 27 of 181 See chart on page 8.

The U.S. closely tied to both friends and former enemies in worldwide economic, social, and political network (China, Russia, OIL)

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The Purposes of Government

Citizens must surrender some freedoms to be provided services by a government Governmental control vs. personal

freedoms Most willing to give up some

freedoms for governmental benefits

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12Rosa Parks 1955. Is this equality? Is equality a purpose of government?

The Purposes of Government

1. To maintain order Hobbes – focused on peoples’ safety/survival Locke – wanted life, liberty, and property Marx – ownership of land and production to the

people/government (Communism)2. To provide public goods

Usually for things not likely to be provided by individuals

Controversial as to what goods or services appropriate (Is bailout public good?)

3. More recently in the U.S., to promote equality - $$?

Controversial: policies promoting equality by redistributing income (taking from wealthy, giving to poor) 13

Promoting Equality (continued)

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” – Karl Marx

Minimum Wage increase 2007 $5.15 – $7.25

Is this redistribution?

Social Equality – same sex marriage rights 14

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This engraving is from the 1651 edition of Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes. It shows a sovereign holding a sword and a scepter of justice. He watches over a an orderly town, made peaceful by his absolute authority. But note that the sovereign’s body is composed of tiny images of his subjects. He exists only through them. Hobbes explains that such government power can be created only if people “confer all their power and strength upon one man, or upon one assembly of men, that may reduce all their wills, by plurality of voices, unto one will.”

A Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Government

Most governmental decisions based on a tradeoff in values

What values a government decides to pursue grouped in three categories: Freedom Order Equality

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A Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Government

Two categories for models of democratic government: Majoritarian democracy Pluralist democracy

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More in Chapter 2

Freedom, order, equality….what do these words mean to you?

Do they have positive/negative connotations?

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The Concept of Freedom

Two basic types of freedom: Freedom of, or freedom to do things

without constraints (absence of constraints)

Freedom from oppression or exploitation

These concepts also described as liberty and equality

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Freedom of = freedomFreedom from = equality

Four Freedoms

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FDR before WWII..see page 16-17

Norman Rockwell paintings – became famous posters during WWII. Reminder of what they were fighting for.

The Concept of Order Can be viewed narrowly as

preservation of life and protection of property or broadly as preserving social order Social order generally held to be

the traditional or accepted way of doing things

Protections via police powers Balance between protections and

civil liberties sometimes difficult to achieve

22Is preserving social order a function of government?

Keeping Order Examples 1980s – banning smoking in public

places 1990s – porn on the Internet After 9/11/01 – deterring terrorism 2009 – Christmas Day bomber – full

body scanners

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Order in a nutshell According to your text:

Preserving life Protecting property Maintaining traditional social

relationships

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Compared with what? The Importance of Order and Freedom in Other Nations

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Compared with other nations, Americans do not value order very much, but do favor protecting freedom of speech.

The Concept of Equality Used in many different senses Basic definition of political

equality is one person, one vote Do some people have “more” than one vote?

Some expand definition to include social equality, or equality in wealth, education, and status Equality of opportunity vs. equality

of outcome 26

What’s the difference? Equality of Opportunity: Each person is

guaranteed the same chance to succeed in life A right/Theory

Equality of Outcome: Society must ensure that people are equal, and governments must design policies to redistribute wealth and status so that economic and social equality is actually achieved. Results 27

Equality of opportunity examples Constitution prohibits titles of nobility

And does not make owning property a requirement for voting or holding office

Public schools and libraries open to all

Other examples?

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Equality of Outcome examples Comparable funding for men’s and

women’s college sports. Affirmative action programs to increase

minority hiring Federal laws requiring employers to pay

men and women equally for equal work Affirmative action in preferential treatment

of minorities in college admissions29

Does this clash with the concept of freedom? Redistribution?

Equality in the Military

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While they still have a long way to go, women are being treated more equally in the military. Although not allowed in units engaged in direct combat, they often find themselves in battle and even killed. As of February 2009, 102 female soldiers had been killed by hostile fire in Iraq, more than 2x as many women killed in the military from the end of WWII to the start of the Iraq War.

In Class Activity Date this ___ and put in your portfolio. I will put you in 4 groups. Each group

needs to come up with 3 arguments related to equality in the military.

Group 1: Why women should participate in combat Group 2: Why women should NOT participate in combat Group 3: Why homosexual men/women should be allowed to

openly serve Group 4: Why homosexual men/women should NOT be

allowed to openly serve

31List your arguments in your portfolio under ___.

Two Dilemmas of Government

Order and equality valuable, but require limitations in individual freedoms

Original dilemma was freedom vs. order; has evolved to encompass more issues Personal safety, whether from attack or diseases like

AIDS Other issues such as capital punishment and access

to controversial videos on YouTube Strengthening one value takes away from the

other32

See 2009 survey results on page 20-21

Two Dilemmas of Government

Modern dilemma is freedom vs. equality

Values clash when government makes policies to enforce equality Equal pay for women and men School busing Discrimination based on many

things, including DNA Americans more likely to choose

freedom over equality

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Ideology and the Scope of Government

Opinions about the merits of various public policies differ greatly

Some persons have values and beliefs that produce contradictory opinions (based on self - interests)

Other persons have a consistent political ideology (a consistent set of values and beliefs about the proper purpose and scope of government)

Different political ideologies form a continuum (see next slide)

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Ideology and the Scope of Government

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Different Ideologies Totalitarianism – unlimited

power; controls everything; “Big Brother”; Hitler; Stalin

Socialism – Government controls basic industries. Allows more room for private ownership than communism Strong gov role in economy Democratic socialism – gives civil

liberties (Western Europe)

Communism – usually totalitarian

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Different Ideologies Capitalism – free enterprise

railroads, airlines, tv stations owned privately

Libertarianism – Very limited government (only protecting life/property) Gov should not promote order or equality Traffic laws = yes; helmets/seat belts = no Laissez faire – let people do as they please

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Different ideologies Anarchism – opposes all

government Pure anarchy objects to even traffic

laws Government an unnecessary evil

used by wealthy to exploit everyone else

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Review – do these make sense?

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Ch. 1 Scenario 3 Which of the previous ideologies on

page 23-25 do you align with? Explain why giving examples of things you agree on.

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Liberals and Conservatives: The Narrow Middle

Practical politics in the U.S. ranges over the center of the ideological continuum

The extremes of political thought rarely argued in public debates

Most Americans either liberals or conservatives Differences center on role of government

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Liberals Versus Conservatives: The New Differences

Historical differences were government’s role in delivering public goods

Today, differences focus on the purpose of government Conservatives support maintenance

of social order Liberals want government to

promote equality 42

Conservatives vs. Liberals Government spending on public goods

Conservatives – less Liberals – more

Conservatives – swifter punishment Also preserving traditional social patterns

Liberals – more tolerant of alternative lifestyles (homesexuals)

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Conservatives vs. Liberals Conservatives may not oppose

equality – just don’t value it. They don’t think it’s a government role Liberals think government sponsodred

equality is valid and necessary

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Gives a good synopsis of what conservatives value (Democrats probably disagree with this picture)

A Two-Dimensional Classification of Ideologies

Accurate classifications require looking at values of freedom, order, and equality Libertarians value freedom more than order or equality Liberals value freedom more than order, but not more

than equality Conservatives value freedom more than equality, but

are willing to restrict it to preserve social order Communitarians favor programs that support both

order and equality

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Ideologies: A Two-Dimensional Framework

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How much freedom should be sacrificed in pursuit of order and equality?

Libertarians and Communitarians are consistent in their attitude toward scope of government activity.

Liberals & conservatives favor or oppose government activity depending on its purpose.

Chapter 1 Scenario 4 Which of the values (Libertarian,

Liberal, Conservative, Communitarian) do you consider yourself? Give examples to explain.

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