July 29, 2002
These
discussions are aimed at examining the political positions that people take,
to understand what characteristics underlie these positions – that is, what
assumptions, attitudes, values etc. bring people to hold these positions.
Ideally,
then, we will be able to discern clumps of characteristics that make up viewpoints
prominent at the present time, and to see which characteristics are the most
important. (Defining positions in
terms of such clumps of characteristics will give us a more specific and a
more realistic picture than merely talking in terms of liberal, conservative,
etc.) Furthermore, we may see how
viewpoints are changing.
To provide a framework
and to provide a starting-point for discussion, here are some lists.
They are not meant to be complete.
Please offer additions:
Economic
politics
Cultural
politics
Identity
politics
Conventional
positions (What do these positions
consist of? What different meanings
might they have?)
Liberalism
Conservatism
Libertarianism
Communitarianism
Progressivism (as used mid-to-late-20th century)
Populism
Radicalism
others?
Aspects
or dimensions of a political position (the basic ways in which
people’s attitudes, values etc. differ).
Note that two or more aspects may be closely related.
Please suggest additions to this
list.
Attitudes toward change. (Is change, considered by itself, to be feared or embraced?)
Attitudes and beliefs toward consequences of the free market. (Does a free-market economy offer justly rewarding work to everyone, or does it leave out some?
Views on the economic effects of taxation and regulation.
Attitudes toward social insurance vs. redistributive welfare. (Should government programs be like insurance policies for all people? Or should they aim to help those in need?)
Views on the psychology of success or poverty – What accounts for individual poverty? (Is the individual’s choice? family? environment?)
Views on the standard of responsibility – How much should each person be responsible for helping him/herself? (merges with question as to how much the individual deserves)
Views on the rights of the individual (positive and negative) – What does the individual deserve from the community, and what should the community refrain from doing toward the individual?
Views on the “rights” of the majority toward minorities or individuals -- to what extent should majority will be dominant?
Attitudes toward authority/power/power structures. Is bigness bad or good? What big organizations are considered to be bad – big government? big business? big labor unions?
Is the local or state government to be favored over the national
government?
Views toward those who are powerless -- Are they victims? Are they responsible for their own misfortune?
Views on the actual role of government – Does it serve special interests? Does it serve the little person? Does it serve the entire community?
Attitudes toward instinctual expression or suppression for its own sake – Is it good or bad to express sex and other natural desires – considered in themselves?
Views on morality – what are the absolute moral principles, and which principles is the government authorized to and responsible for enforcing?
others?
Incidentally: I am aware that people’s political positions are often determined simply by their own self-interest. But that can’t be the whole story. If it were, the poor and helpless would have even less of a voice than they do. Sometimes people form their views on principle, and even if they act from self-interest, they justify their actions by appealing to some set of assumptions, principles etc.
Issues to use as examples for analysis (in no particular order) – Consider the various positions people take on these issues, including your own position, and examine the attitudes and beliefs that lie behind them.
School vouchers
Social Security
Taxes (especially estate taxes)
Foreign policy –
multilateralism vs. unilaterialism
free trade vs. protectionism
Environmental issues
Drug policy
Regulation of business (e.g. by OSHA)
Church-state issues (e.g. school prayer)
Regulation of TV/media
Welfare programs
Minimum or living wage
Gun control
Regulation of smoking
Rent control
Building of sports stadiums by cities
Domestic-partner legislation
others?
Specific examples will be handed out.
Specific positions to consider:
Parents angry at entertainment media for sex, violence affecting children.
Black inner-city parents working on behalf of school vouchers.
Parents working to institute school prayer.
Opponents of globalization/free trade.
Others -- Please suggest further examples.
Specific persons to consider:
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
Others – Please suggest.
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