Political Spectrum
Where do YOU fit
In the
World of Politics?
Ideology: A Definition
A set of beliefs about:
• Politics
• The Economy
• Society
That shape a person’s world.
Question:
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Where do you fit in?
Directions: http://www.fishforinfo.org/dan-h/
Click on: News Resources
Click on: Political Parties of NYS
Click on the Political Spectrum Quiz Link
Take the Quiz & Record Your Answers
Traditional Spectrum
LEFT
Liberals
CENTER
Moderates
RIGHT
Conservatives
Traditional Spectrum
LEFT
Liberals
People who
generally favor
gov’t action and
view change as
progress
CENTER
Moderates
Mushy Middle
People that look
for compromise,
Or are split on the
Issues.
RIGHT
Conservatives
People who generally
favor limited
government and are
cautious about change
Economic Spectrum
LEFT
More
Government
Control
CENTER
RIGHT
Some Sort of
Balance
Less
Government
Control
Communism:
Complete Gov’t
Ownership &
Control
Social
Democracy/
Socialism:
Mostly Private with
Extensive Gov’t
Control
Regulated
Capitalism:
Private
Ownership &
Some Gov’t
Control
Laissez-Faire
Capitalism:
Private
Ownership,
NO Gov’t
Control
Ruling Style
Authoritarian
Libertarian
Ruling Style
Authoritarian System: Gov’t
decides/imposes how people
live their lives
More Government Control
Non-Authoritarian: Citizens
decide how to live lives. Gov’t
guarantees individual rights.
Anarchy: No gov’t or man made
laws
Less Government Control
A Different Way of Looking at Things
Authoritarian
Totalitarian
System
Authoritarian
Capitalism
Left
Right
Advanced
Industrial
Democracy
Communist
Democracy
Libertarian
The Spectrum
Authoritarian
Totalitarian
System
Authoritarian
Capitalism
Left
Right
Advanced
Industrial
Democracy
Communist
Democracy
Libertarian
Let’s Play a Game!
Word Association!!!
I say a word…..
And you say the
OPPOSITE WORD
That comes to your mind.
Question/Definition
• Stereotype?
• How does this affect people?
Scores: Thank you to the NYS…
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Constitution Party: Gary Gunsher
Conservative Party: Nancy D.
UB College Democrats: Quinne Sember
Green Party: Brian Bittner
Libertarian Party: Mike Edes
UB College Republicans: Alana Barricks
Socialist Party: Billy Wharton
Working Families Party: Mike Boland
Political Compass
Economic Issues
Left
•Pro-Union
•Planned Economy
•Health Care as a Right
•Progressive Taxation
•Government Oversight
•Minimum/Living Wage
•Protectionist/Fair Trade
•Social Security
Right
•Anti-Union
•Free-Market
•Health Care
•Cut Taxes
•No Government Regulation
•Prevailing Wage
•Free Trade
•401(k) for Retirement
Foreign Policy
Non-Interventionist
•Passive/Pacifist
•Defensive
•America First (Take care of)
•“Humanitarian?”
•Necessity of War?
•Diplomacy First
•Anti-Imperialist/Colonialist
•End the War on Drugs
•End the War on Terrorism
Neo-Conservative
•SuperPower
•Police Man of the World
•Project American Policy
•“Humanitarian”
•First Strike
•Min. Diplomacy w/Enemies
•Imperialist/Colonialist
•War on Drugs
•War on Terrorism
Foreign Policy
Non-Interventionist
Democrat (-4.94)
Libertarian (-7.23)
Socialist (-7.24)
Neo-Conservative
Constitution (-1.35)
Green (-2.09)
Working Families (-2.58)
Communist (-2.99)
Conservative (2.43)
Republican (5.15)
Culture Wars: Social Issues
Left
•National Health Care
•Pro-Abortion/Choice
•Gay Rights/Marriage
•Right to Die/Euthanasia
•Separation of Church & State
•Gun Control
•Affirmative Action
•Evolution
•Patriotism – Questioning
•No National Language Law
•Reform Criminals
•Decriminalize Drugs
•Freedom of Speech
•Anti-Prohibition
•Life in Prison/Prison Reform
•Pro-Immigration/Immigrant Rights
Right
•Privatized Health Care
•Anti-Abortion/Pro-Life
•No Gay Rights/Marriage
•No Right to Die/Euthanasia
•Prayer in School
•Gun Freedom
•No Affirmative Action
•Creation/Intel. Design
•Patriotism – Unquestioning
•National Language Law
•Punish Criminals
•Criminalize Drugs
•Speech Restrictions
•Prohibition
•Pro-Death Penalty
•Anti-Immigration
Culture Wars: Social Issues
Liberal
Libertarian (-5.28)
Communist (-5.87)
Democrat (-7.08)
Socialist (-8.33)
Conservative
Working Families Party (-3.23)
Green (-3.35)
Constitution (3.54)
Conservative (5.64)
Republican (5.69)
Questions?
Questions?
Any?
Seriously?
Please?
Just one?
My shoe size is between an 8 & a 9…..
Why Register/Vote 3rd Party?
“It is better to vote for what you want and not
get it than to vote for what you don't want
and get it.”
-Eugene Victor Debs
Think about this…..
“When you choose the lesser of two evils,
always remember that it is still an evil.”
-Max Lerner
Another Thought…..
“Let us not seek the Republican answer or the
Democratic answer, but the [correct] answer.”
-JFK