Public Opinion Braunwarth POSC 121 What is Public Opinion? ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Simply, the opinion of the public on matters of relevance to the government We’ll start by examining the factors shaping public in the U.S. First from the Macro/Cultural level Then Groups/Social Categories Then the Individual level Political Culture ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ How is Public Opinion shaped by our overall Political Culture? We basically all share the Classical Liberal focus on self-interested, reasoning individuals The Framers borrowed from Locke who drew on the ideas of Descartes Descartes popularized the idea of individual reason which made possible the enlightenment and the scientific revolution Classical Liberalism ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ This way of thinking is well suited to our economic (capitalism) and political (democracy) systems However, not all societies have gone through the same process of enlightenment Is it inevitable that this process (and capitalism and democracy) will spread? Religious fundamentalism and it’s reliance on faith over fallible individual reasoning dominates many societies and even many groups here Social Categories ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ What characteristics are salient in shaping Public Opinion? How? Race Opinions differ regarding the extent of racial progress Gender Women are slightly less likely to advocate war and more likely to vote Democrat Social Categories ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Age In general, people don’t become more conservative as they age Rather, their opinions reflect the conditions under which they were socialized For example, Millennials are generally more tolerant, educated, and economically risk-averse than previous generations Religion The “God Gulf” is dramatic with the religiously observant voting Republican Social Categories ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ In general, the more urban, the more liberal The South is the most conservative region of the country This is related to class Income is more concentrated in the U.S. than in any other Western Democracy But Americans are less aware of class divisions than others Lower class tends to be more concerned with personal morality Upper class tends to be more supportive of civil liberty issues Shaping Individual Opinions ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Most fundamental political beliefs/ ideologies/ opinions are formed early What are the primary agents of political Socialization? Family is #1 Schools impart basic civic values Often exposed to different situations/ people/ stimuli post-high school These “college years” can be very formative Many of you are actively shaping your values and opinions right now! Public Opinion ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Public Opinion is just that, opinion. It is a “social fact” not a “brute fact” It need not be based on hard data or be objectively true So why should we care about P.O.? This is a democracy and Public Opinion is still one of the primary inputs that shapes public policy The Quality of Public Opinion is thus important Public Knowledge ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Are citizens doing their job? ⚫ Take the following quiz: Who is your Congressional Representative? Who are your state’s two Senators? Who is the U.S. Secretary of State? Who is the U.S. Secretary of the Interior? Who is your representatives to either the State Assembly or the State Senate? Who is The Queen B? Why do we know more about some of these than others? What the media chooses to emphasize (Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death) John Kenneth Galbraith ⚫ ⚫ "We Associate truth with convenience," he wrote, "with what closely accords with self-interest and personal wellbeing or promises best to avoid awkward effort or unwelcome dislocation of life. We also find highly acceptable what contributes the most to self-esteem." Economic and social behaviors, Galbraith continued, "are complex, and to comprehend their character is mentally tiring. Therefore we adhere, as though to a raft, to those ideas which represent our understanding.“ In sum, Public Opinion/“conventional wisdom” is always ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Easily understandable Reinforces our self-esteem We reason but only to justify our existing conclusions Frames ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ All politics is based on moral values, with strict conservatives and progressives having different moral values. All issues are conceptually "framed" - that is, they have a mental structure that fits one's moral system. Facts matter, but only when they clearly fit one's morally-based frames. If the facts don't fit your frames, the frames stay (since they are in your brain) and the facts are ignored or ridiculed. Haidt The Righteous Mind ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Liberals stress what “evolved values”? Caring and Fairness Conservatives emphasize what “tribal values”? Loyalty, Authority, Sanctity Interestingly, both are actually right about their central concerns But, it is very difficult to bridge the gap between the two Haidt The Righteous Mind ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Need to look at what issues each side “Sacrilizes” (hysterical motivated ignorance) Conservatives? Taxes Liberals? Was race and gender, becoming global warming and gay marriage Public Opinion in a complex world ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Is the world that simple? No, but individuals seek easily understandable, self-satisfying explanations Look at the “Republicanism as Religion” article. Public Opinion may be simplistic but it still drives policy in our democracy However, it is not just a one-way street Constructing Public Opinion in a Complex World ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Political actors (politicians, interest groups, etc.) are eager to construct explanations that reinforce certain positions Is it possible for a politician to take the high road and address the complexity of political issues? Or will he be defeated by someone promising a simple explanation that reinforces the selfesteem of the audience? Plato’s Allegory of the Cave ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ How do people feel when their illusions have been shattered? Examples? Are they happy to be enlightened? If enlightened, will they be eager to go back an educate their fellows? Image>Substance ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Take a moment and list attributes of two prominent politicians Chances are these are based on messages popularized by the media but probably have little to do that individual’s ability to govern We are not computers and do not view the world from a purely rational perspective Opinion is often based on “image”, emotions, and impressions rather than substantive political issues It may be “rule by the people” but large numbers of people are uninformed or misled or just don’t care Culture of Fear ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ What kinds of things, are people warned to be afraid of? Are these likely threats? So what; why should we care if people are afraid of things over which they have little control and are not likely to affect them? It prevents them from addressing real political concerns upon which they can make an impact. (Same argument applies to sports) Cynicism ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Do people tend to trust government or do they think that government is “the problem and not the solution” and that politicians are merely “a bunch of crooks”? Such opinions are widespread even though the vast majority of politicians are concerned about the public good. What effect does this have on democratic politics? Limits the ability of government to provide positive action for society John Stuart Mill: On Conformity, Individuality, and Liberty ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Under what circumstances can one interfere in the actions of another? Only Self-Protection Mill worries about the tyranny of public opinion For J.S. Mill, very important to be exposed to a variety of opinions and a diversity of ideas “Marketplace of Ideas” Is there a tyranny of public opinion in the U.S.? Example? How are opposing views treated? Political Ideology ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ What we accept is often shaped by our ideology An ideology is a Coherent and Comprehensive system of Political Beliefs It should tell you what is, what should be, and what you should do politically Our variations of liberalism and conservatism are unique to the U.S. These ideologies differ in their acceptance of government influence in the market and in private conduct Liberalism ⚫ Theme: Public Morality ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Concerned with welfare of others Everyone is valued We are our brother’s keeper “nurturant parent” family model in which the world is a benevolent place that can be made better Government necessary to protect people from vagaries of the market Government should not favor particular behaviors or groups (religious, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) Conservatism ⚫ Theme: Private Morality ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Concerned with conduct of others Traditional Values We are our own keeper “strict father” family model in which the world is dangerous and must be controlled No Government regulation of the market Government should endorse precise standards for private conduct Ideology Flip Sides of the Same coin ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Conservative Human Nature Self-Interest Resources Scarcity Different Lifestyles Restrain Criminals Retribution Taxation Regressive Equality Freedom Order Order Imp’t Liberal Communal Plenty Trust Rehabilitate Progressive Equality Imp’t Freedom Braunwarth’s Rule ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Braunwarth’s rule: Laws are codifications of what is acceptable to the average person; Half will think we are going too far, half will think we are not going far enough There is always a tension between outliers advocating where we need to go and those endorsing more fundamental values Ideology Constructs Reality ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ “If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences” (W. I. Thomas) If you want to look at reality according to either perspective, you will find a reality that conforms to your interpretation Neither is really “common sense” Depending how you look at reality, your actions and interactions will be affected; selffulfilling prophecy Ultimately you create your own reality Conservatism ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Ideological Mainstream of American politics has shifted to the right Why has Conservatism benefited from the growth of talk radio and not Liberalism? Plays better because it has easy answers Personal responsibility and self-reliance are easily understandable and persuasive This leads to clear, definite and easily defendable policy stances (less government, get tough on crime, etc.) Conservatism and Liberalism ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ In addition, conservative calls for less government naturally lend themselves to negative rhetoric and ads attacking government and politicians Liberalism relies on more complex justifications (social responsibility, etc.) that does not provide simple black & white answers This leads to inherently more ambiguous policy choices (what can government do to enable all to compete equally?) Conservatives fight better ⚫ ⚫ Subsequently, conservatives are able to fight political battles with greater surety and zealousness Can you think of any contemporary examples? Do Conservatives fight better? Compare your answers with results from our national survey Market Skeptic Republicans General public ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS IDEOLOGICAL PLACEMENT You answered: The economic system in this country unfairly favors powerful interests Distribution of Market Skeptic Republicans and the overall public on a 10-item scale of political values. Learn more about the scale. Market Skeptic Republicans make up 12% of the population. 549 You You answered: Business corporations make too much profit ES FOREIGN POLICY You answered: We should pay less attention to problems overseas and concentrate on problems here at home Cenay M Carately Stive 72% General Public Market Skaptic Republicans 474 You answered: The best way to ensure peace is through military strength SOCIAL VALUES, RACE, AND IMMIGRATION You answered: Homosexuality should be discouraged by society 309 319 You answered: In foreign policy, the U.S. should follow its OWN national interests even when its allies strongly disagree 2495 47% You answered: There are still significant obstades that make it harder for women to get ahead than men GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE You answered: Our country has made the changes needed to give blacks equal rights with whites 36 4ON GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE You answered: Our country has made the changes needed to give blacks equal rights with whites 5196 You answered: Government often does a better job than people give it credit for You answered: Blacks who can't get ahead in this country are mostly responsible for their own condition 739 You answered: Government regulation of business is necessary to protect the public interest You answered: Immigrants today strengthen our country because of their hard work and talents SOCIAL SAFETY NET You answered: Poor people today have it easy because they can get government benefits without doing anything in return ENVIRONMENT 35% You answered: stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost 5756 You answered: The government today can't afford to do much more to help the needy 美国 4396 "Y" PERSONAL EFFICACY You answered: Most people who want to get ahead can make it if they're willing to work hard 619
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