Political Culture Political Tolerance & Mistrust of the Government.

Political CulturePolitical Culture

Political Tolerance & Political Tolerance & Mistrust of the Mistrust of the GovernmentGovernment

Value Changes during the 1930sValue Changes during the 1930s

►Although the Preamble to the Although the Preamble to the Constitution states that Constitution states that “promotion“promotion of the of the General General Welfare”Welfare” is a major purpose is a major purpose of government, the meaning of of government, the meaning of that value was transformed that value was transformed during the 1930sduring the 1930s

Value Changes during the 1930sValue Changes during the 1930s

►Great Depression brought Great Depression brought about the near-collapse of about the near-collapse of capitalismcapitalism

►FDR’s New Deal affirmed FDR’s New Deal affirmed government’s responsibility for government’s responsibility for the the welfare of its peoplewelfare of its people

Value Changes during the 1930sValue Changes during the 1930s

►In FDR’s 1944 inaugural In FDR’s 1944 inaugural address, he outlined a address, he outlined a “Second Bill of Rights”“Second Bill of Rights”

►Reflected FDR’s firm commitment Reflected FDR’s firm commitment to to “economic security and “economic security and independence”independence”

FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights”FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights”

►Asserted everyone has a right toAsserted everyone has a right to::►Useful jobUseful job►FoodFood►ClothingClothing►Decent homeDecent home►Adequate medical careAdequate medical care►Good educationGood education

FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights”FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights”

►These beliefs played a major These beliefs played a major role in the creation of the civil role in the creation of the civil rights & welfare legislation of rights & welfare legislation of the 1960s & as recently as the the 1960s & as recently as the early 1990searly 1990s

FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights”FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights”

►Clinton referred to FDR’s Clinton referred to FDR’s “Second Bill of Rights” when “Second Bill of Rights” when he said: “Health care is a he said: “Health care is a basic right all should have”basic right all should have”

Value ChangesValue Changes►The defeat of Clinton’s The defeat of Clinton’s

health care plan indicates health care plan indicates that Americans don’t always that Americans don’t always agree on the meaning of agree on the meaning of this valuethis value

Value ChangesValue Changes►The government’s The government’s

responsibility for the responsibility for the general welfare became a general welfare became a major issue of the 2000 major issue of the 2000 election campaignelection campaign

2000 Presidential Election2000 Presidential Election

►Candidates George W. Bush Candidates George W. Bush & Al Gore debated the & Al Gore debated the merits of a government-merits of a government-sponsored prescription plan sponsored prescription plan for the elderlyfor the elderly

POLITICAL TOLERANCEPOLITICAL TOLERANCE

►American valueAmerican value►Easily misunderstoodEasily misunderstood

POLITICAL TOLERANCEPOLITICAL TOLERANCE

►Democracy depends on Democracy depends on citizens being reasonably citizens being reasonably tolerant of the opinions & tolerant of the opinions & actions of othersactions of others

POLITICAL TOLERANCEPOLITICAL TOLERANCE

►Most Americans believe Most Americans believe themselves to be fairly themselves to be fairly toleranttolerant

►Studies shows that political Studies shows that political tolerance is much more tolerance is much more complex a value than it complex a value than it appears on the surfaceappears on the surface

POLITICAL TOLERANCEPOLITICAL TOLERANCE

►Key findings:Key findings:►(1) Overwhelming majority of (1) Overwhelming majority of

Americans agree with Americans agree with freedom of speech, freedom of speech, religion, & the right to religion, & the right to petition—at least in the petition—at least in the abstractabstract

POLITICAL TOLERANCEPOLITICAL TOLERANCE

►(2) People are (2) People are not as not as politicallypolitically tolerant as they tolerant as they proclaim themselves to beproclaim themselves to be

►(3) Americans are willing to (3) Americans are willing to allow many people with whom allow many people with whom they disagree to do a great they disagree to do a great deal politicallydeal politically

POLITICAL TOLERANCEPOLITICAL TOLERANCE

►(4) Americans have become more (4) Americans have become more tolerant over the last few decadestolerant over the last few decades

►(5) Most people dislike one or (5) Most people dislike one or another group strongly enough to another group strongly enough to deny it certain political rights—deny it certain political rights—although people are not always although people are not always inclined to act on their beliefsinclined to act on their beliefs

POLITICAL TOLERANCEPOLITICAL TOLERANCE

►As a general rule, As a general rule, people people are willing to deny rights are willing to deny rights to people on the to people on the opposite end of the opposite end of the political spectrumpolitical spectrum

POLITICAL TOLERANCEPOLITICAL TOLERANCE

►Liberals are most likely to Liberals are most likely to deny rights to right-wing deny rights to right-wing groups (neo-Nazis)groups (neo-Nazis)

►Conservatives are most likely Conservatives are most likely to deny rights to groups they to deny rights to groups they may disapprove of (gays, may disapprove of (gays, atheists)atheists)

POLITICAL TOLERANCEPOLITICAL TOLERANCE

►Americans remain more Americans remain more tolerant of unpopular ideas, tolerant of unpopular ideas, individuals, and groups in individuals, and groups in the abstract than in realitythe abstract than in reality

POLITICAL TOLERANCEPOLITICAL TOLERANCE

►Personal liberties &Personal liberties & constitutional freedoms constitutional freedoms endure:endure:

►Americans often do not act on Americans often do not act on their beliefs their beliefs

POLITICAL TOLERANCEPOLITICAL TOLERANCE

►Cannot agree on which group, Cannot agree on which group, individual, or idea should be individual, or idea should be suppressedsuppressed

►Permit the courts to enforce Permit the courts to enforce constitutional protectionsconstitutional protections

Mistrust of the GovernmentMistrust of the Government

►Values of the political culture Values of the political culture are not immune to changeare not immune to change

►Trust that Americans have Trust that Americans have in their government has in their government has varied considerablyvaried considerably

Mistrust of the GovernmentMistrust of the Government

►Although the trust reflected in Although the trust reflected in the 1950s & early 1960s may the 1950s & early 1960s may have been artificially highhave been artificially high, , trust in government & its trust in government & its officials has declined officials has declined significantly since the mid significantly since the mid 1960s1960s

Mistrust of the GovernmentMistrust of the Government

►Many scholars blame the Many scholars blame the Vietnam War & WatergateVietnam War & Watergate for for the initial, dramatic dropsthe initial, dramatic drops

►Trend is persistent into the early Trend is persistent into the early 2121stst century (Americans in record century (Americans in record number express their disgust number express their disgust with politics & politicians)with politics & politicians)

Political EfficacyPolitical Efficacy

►Accompanying the mistrust of Accompanying the mistrust of government has been a government has been a drop drop in external political efficacyin external political efficacy

►Belief of an individual that Belief of an individual that government will respond to government will respond to his/her personal needs or his/her personal needs or beliefsbeliefs

Mistrust of the GovernmentMistrust of the Government

►Americans are now much more Americans are now much more likely to say that likely to say that public public officials care little about officials care little about what the people think or what the people think or wantwant

Mistrust of the GovernmentMistrust of the Government

►Americans seem to have come Americans seem to have come to the conclusion that to the conclusion that government is government is too big &too big & pervasive to be sensitive to pervasive to be sensitive to individual citizensindividual citizens

Mistrust of the GovernmentMistrust of the Government

►However—international However—international studies show that:studies show that:

► Americans feel Americans feel significantly higher levels significantly higher levels of political efficacy than do of political efficacy than do citizens of many European citizens of many European countriescountries

Political EfficacyPolitical Efficacy ►Americans are less likely to Americans are less likely to

vote than most Europeansvote than most Europeans►Americans are more likely to Americans are more likely to

engage in other forms of engage in other forms of political participation:political participation:

►(1) (1) Sign petitionsSign petitions►(2) (2) Work to solve community Work to solve community

problemsproblems►(3) (3) Regularly discuss politicsRegularly discuss politics