Viewpoints of Government Ideology
Ideology”: A science or set of ideas whose purpose is construed on how to improve society.
Political Ideology: A coherent set of values and beliefs people hold about the purpose and scope of government-in the actions of individuals. Ideologies are sets or systems of beliefs that shape the thinking of individuals and how they view the world, especially in regard to issues of “race, nationality, the role and function of government, the relations between men & women, human responsibility for the natural environment, and many other matters. It is easier to understand how ideas get turned into action when one looks at the four functions political scientists attribute to ideology:
- Explanation: Ideologies can provide us with reasons for why social and political conditions are the way they are, especially in time of crisis.
- Evaluation: Ideologies can provide the standards for evaluating social conditions and political institutions and events.
- Orientation: Ideologies can provide a sense of identity.
- Political Program: Ideologies help people to make political choices and guide their political actions.
The Four Major Ideologies of America
- Liberals: Pure Liberals are liberal on both economic and social issues. They want the government to reduce economic inequality, regulate business, tax the rich heavily, deal with crime by addressing its (allegedly) economic causes, protect the rights of accused criminals, allow abortion on demand, and guarantee the broadest possible freedoms of speech and press.
- Conservatives: Pure conservatives are conservative on both economic and social issues. They want less government regulation of business, lower taxes, and a greater reliance on markets, and they advocate getting tough on criminals, punishing pornographers and drug users, and cutting back on welfare payments.
- Libertarians: These people are advocates of free markets, low taxes, and a small government (which makes them economic conservatives), but they are also support the greatest amount of personal freedom in social matters, such as speech, drug use, and abortion (which makes them social liberals).
- Populists: These people are liberal on economic matters desiring government regulation of business and heavy federal spending on public programs, but conservative on social matters, opposing abortion on demand and favoring a crackdown on crime, drug use, and pornography.