Political Political Ideology:Ideology:

Perspectives on GovernmentPerspectives on Government

Liberals on the EconomyLiberals on the Economy

Economic issues = government should Economic issues = government should take action; “level the playing field”take action; “level the playing field”

In favor of environmental regulationsIn favor of environmental regulations Tougher worker protectionsTougher worker protections Progressive income taxProgressive income tax More corporate taxesMore corporate taxes Feel that government should provide for Feel that government should provide for

economic opportunitieseconomic opportunities Support increasing the minimum wageSupport increasing the minimum wage

Liberals on lifestyles and Liberals on lifestyles and personal rightspersonal rights

Oppose restrictions on free Oppose restrictions on free speech/pressspeech/press

Strong supporters of privacy even for Strong supporters of privacy even for those accused of crimesthose accused of crimes

Due process rightsDue process rights Pro-choicePro-gay rights and gay Pro-choicePro-gay rights and gay

marriagemarriage Opposed to the death penaltyOpposed to the death penalty

Conservatives on the Conservatives on the EconomyEconomy

Less government is betterLess government is better ““laissez faire” economicslaissez faire” economics Feel that government regulations hurt Feel that government regulations hurt

businessbusiness Less restrictive environmental policiesLess restrictive environmental policies Lower taxes and less regulationLower taxes and less regulation Raising the minimum wage hurts Raising the minimum wage hurts

small businessessmall businesses

Conservatives on Conservatives on lifestyles and personal lifestyles and personal

rightsrights Support some limitations on free speechSupport some limitations on free speech Willing to limit criminal rights especially Willing to limit criminal rights especially

privacyprivacy Willing to give the police more authority to Willing to give the police more authority to

search individuals accused of crimessearch individuals accused of crimes Pro-lifePro-life Opposed to gay marriage and an Opposed to gay marriage and an

expansion of gay rights expansion of gay rights Strong supporters of the death penaltyStrong supporters of the death penalty

Libertarians on the Libertarians on the EconomyEconomy

Agree with conservatives that less Agree with conservatives that less government is bettergovernment is better

Little to no regulations on the private Little to no regulations on the private sectorsector

Let private business handle most Let private business handle most things in societythings in society

Small, very limited governmentSmall, very limited government

Libertarians on lifestyles Libertarians on lifestyles and personal rightsand personal rights

Agree with liberals in this areaAgree with liberals in this area Don’t want censorshipDon’t want censorship Don’t want government telling Don’t want government telling

people who they can or can’t marrypeople who they can or can’t marry Typically, they are pro-choiceTypically, they are pro-choice Strong supporters of privacy rightsStrong supporters of privacy rights Bottom line = Less government in all Bottom line = Less government in all

aspects aspects

CommunitariansCommunitarians

Tend to agree with liberals on Tend to agree with liberals on economic issues, but they tend to economic issues, but they tend to agree with conservatives on social agree with conservatives on social issuesissues

Government should act out of a sense Government should act out of a sense of of moralitymorality

Do what’s best for the common goodDo what’s best for the common good Oftentimes, communitarians have a Oftentimes, communitarians have a

difficult time votingdifficult time voting