Public Opinion

1
Public Opinion

• AP Government Politics
• Mr. S. Kolesar
• 10/2009

2
Cleavages in Public Opinion

• Cleavage political term for a separation
  between groups of people
• Factors to consider
• Social Class
• Education
• Race Ethnicity
• Region

3
Cleavages in Public Opinion

• Social Class
• Working class (blue collar) more likely to be a
  Democrat with liberal economic views
• Positions change as sensitive issues arise

4
Cleavages in Public Opinion

• Education
• Tied to social class
• Access to higher-paying jobs linked to education
  level
• ? education more liberal views
• Result affluent class more liberal than before

5
Cleavages in Public Opinion

• Race Ethnicity
• African Americans Democrats
• White Republican
• Differences between seem to be narrowing
• Differences within exist

6
Cleavages in Public Opinion

• Race Ethnicity
• Latino Democrat
• Asian Republican
• Differences within exist, i.e Japanese very
  conservative, Koreans more liberal

7
Cleavages in Public Opinion

• Region
• North v. South, Oh no, not again ?
• Southern members of Congress vote more
  conservatively than the North

8
Political Ideology

• A more or less consistent set of views as to the
  policies govt ought to pursue
• For example, preconceived notions of the terms
  liberal and conservative

9
Political Ideology

• Moderates are the largest group among American
  voters
• Conservatives 2
• Liberals 3
• What do the terms mean?
• See homework 5

10
Political Ideology

• Issues to help categorize your ideology
• 1. Economy govt policy towards
• 2. Civil Rights federal action towards
• 3. Conduct both public and political
• Examples please

11
Political Ideology

• Pure Liberals are
• Liberal on both economic personal conduct
• Who are they?
• Young, college-educated, Jewish or non-religious

12
Political Ideology

• Pure Conservatives are conservative on both
  economic conduct issues
• Who are they?
• Older, higher incomes, white, Midwestern

13
Political Ideology

• Libertarians are
• Conservative on economic matters and liberal on
  social issues
• Who are they?
• Young, college-educated, white, higher incomes,
  no religion, Western

14
Political Ideology

• Populists are
• Liberal on economic matters and conservative on
  social issues
• Who are they?
• Older, poorly educated, low income, religious,
  female, Southern or Midwestern

15
The Political Elite

• Who are they?
• Activists who will hold office, run for office,
  work in campaigns, lead interest groups or social
  movements, and speak out on public issues

16
The Political Elite

• The better informed usually play a greater role
  in politics consistent liberal or conservative
  viewpoints
• The more your peers are involved in politics, the
  more likely you will be too.