PoliticsThe Political SpectrumUnderstanding Liberal and Conservative

The Political Spectrum

Liberal Conservative

Role of Government

Central Debate: The role of government.• Freedom vs. Protection• Is it the role of govt to get involved in

personal issues?• Is it the role of govt to help people?• Is the role of govt to help or regulate

business?• How much freedom should I receive?• How much intervention do I expect?

Left Wing

Liberal: OverviewPersonal issues

Economic issues

Government should

• not interfere with

personal choice.

• not censor the

expression of the people.

• aid in creating equality.

• help people who need it.

• regulate business in our

mixed market.

Right wing

Conservative: Overview

Personal issues

Economic issues

Government should

• preserve the traditional values

of America.

• protect American families by

regulating non-traditional

behavior.

• serve no role in interfering with

the free market.

• reduce its size and its

regulatory role over business.

Abortion

Liberal

• Pro-choice• About freedom: “my

body, my choice”• Fetus, not baby• Separation of

church/state• Prevents black market• Rape, incest, mother’s

life threatened• Unfit mothers

Conservative

• Pro-Life• About protecting life of

unborn• Thou shall not kill• Fetuses feel pain• Robbing society of

hero...• Adoption• Psychological trauma

Illegal Immigration

Liberal

• Tolerant• Land of immigrants• Lower labor costs• Take unwanted jobs• Lower consumer prices• Children citizens• Naturalization path

slow and costly• Amnesty

Conservative

• Intolerant• “illegal”, period.• Take jobs• Homeland security• Burden on education• Burden on health costs• Crime• overcrowding

War

Liberal

• Passive• Doves• Use diplomacy• Cause backlash (911)• Collateral damage• Cost in lives• Cost in dollars

Conservative

• Aggressive• War Hawks• Deterrent to challenge• Spread democracy• Liberate people from

oppression• Resources• Image

Same Sex Marriage

Liberal• For• Equality• New civil rights

movement• Brings revenue to states• Aids in adoptions• Basic spousal rights like

med benefits and hospital visits

• No such thing as traditional marriage

Conservative• Anti • Want amendment to

declare marriage is m/f• Fear moral erosion• Suspect fraud for benefits• Religious sanctity of

marriage• It violates traditional

values• Slippery slope: polygamy,

interspecies marriage

Universal Health Care

Liberal

• Public (Govt run)• Millions uninsured• Private practices

questionable:• Regulations needed

• Pre existing conditions• Drop dead limits• 3 deny policies

• Make a healthier public• Affordable with other cuts

Conservative• Private• Individual’s

responsibility to get care• Eliminates freedom of

choice• Tax increases• Increases the size of

government• Fear of poor quality

Death Penalty

Liberal

• Against• Life imprisonment• Immoral to kill• Two wrongs…• Rehabilitation• Violates the 8th Amdt• Wrongful executions• Racial bias

Conservative

• For• Deterrent to crime• Eliminates possibility of

escape or parole• Closure• Equal justice: Eye for an

Eye• Cost effective • Prison overcrowding

Gun Control

Liberal• For regulation• Convenience of killing• Child shootings(home)• Creates more fatal

altercations• Mass murders

• Columbine• Virginia Tech• Ft Hood• AuroraTheater “Dark Knight”• Sandy Hook Elementary• DC Sniper

• Regulation saves lives• Current regulation victories

Conservative• Against regulation• 2nd Amendment

• Right to Bear Arms• NRA

• Self protection• Personal rights• Criminals will still obtain

guns• Slippery slope:

• “home invasion”• hunters

Social Security

Liberal

• Public • Trust govt more than

private markets• Private markets volatile• System can be fixed

• Increase retirement age• Increase contribution• Reduce benefit

Conservative

• Private• Invest in private

accounts• Government

irresponsible• Better investment for

retiree• Reduce size of govt

Axis:Personal issues

Less Govt (more

freedom

)

More Govt (less freedom

)

L C

Axis:Economic issues

Less Govt (more

freedom

)

More Govt (less freedom

)

LC

C(e)

C(p)

L(e)

L(p)

personal

e c o n o m i c

Lib ConLib Con

Ideologies in the Parties

Democratic Party Republican Party (GOP)

If there are degrees of variance within each party, then all Democrats can’t be alike and all Republicans can’t be alike.