Today we will look at the main influences on American opinions about government and the key concepts that make up that perception.
Today we will look at the main influences on American opinions about government and the key concepts that make up that perception. There are 5 core values that shape American attitudes about government and politics: Individualism (2:12), equality of opportunity (4:00), free enterprise (5:08), rule of law (5:47), and limited government (1:28).
Today’s question of the day (7:50): When was the phrase “under God” added to the Pledge?
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: United States Government Edition!
(AP is a registered trademark of the College Board and is not affiliated with The APsolute RecAP. Copyright 2020 - The APsolute RecAP, LLC. All rights reserved.)
Website:
EMAIL:
Follow Us:
Hi and welcome to the APsolute Recap:US Government Edition.Today’s episode will recap American Attitudes about Government and Politics
Lets Zoom out:
Unit 4 - American Political Ideologies and Beliefs
Topic-4.1, 4.2
Big idea - Methods of Political Analysis
The way in which we learn about government and politics is called political socialization. Most people’s views about government are shaped and influenced by many factors including, school, home, and the media. Today we will look at the main influences on American opinions about government and the key concepts that make up that perception.
Lets Zoom in:
In many places, one’s culture and demographics influence their ideas about government. This is true in the United States as well, but another important factor is our history, and the narrative that was established around our independence from Great Britain. There are 5 core values that shape American attitudes about government and politics: Individualism, equality of opportunity, free enterprise, rule of law, and limited government.
Let’s begin with that last one on the list since we have already addressed it in greater length in previous episodes. As a reminder, the founders feared a strong central government. The idea that the government needs to have both limited and balanced powers can be seen in our foundational documents: Federalist 51, the Declaration of Independence, and The Constitution. The system of checks and balances and federalism were both safeguards against government power. Yet even today, the debates about how much government involvement is too much - continues.
Let’s now consider the other factors, starting with individualism. The idea of working hard to get ahead in life and standing on one’s own two feet is much more prevalent in the United States than in other western democracies. Furthermore, Americans tend to rate themselves as more patriotic than other nationalities as well. As Americans, over 65% of us agree with the statement that we control our own destinies. The Horatio Alger story of “pulling oneself up by the bootstraps” is central to many people’s perception of government, especially those who think too much welfare discourages this kind of behavior.
Hand in hand with this belief that if one works hard one can get ahead, is the belief that all American have equal access and opportunities to achieve this American dream. America is the “land of opportunity” and for most of our history, this idea has been a core tenet of our political beliefs. This idea of equal access to opportunity has seen a significant decline in the last two decades. For most of the 20th century, roughly 83% of Americans felt there was plenty of opportunity if one worked hard. As of 2012, that number was down to only 52%. It is difficult to say if this change in perception reflects an actual decline in opportunity, or a more honest look at whether or not everyone truly has an equal opportunity to get ahead. Recent discussions regarding race and the legacies of slavery and a reckoning with our history have led to 60% of Americans agreeing with the idea that the impact of slavery still affects people of color’s opportunities in this country today.
Although Americans might have started to question whether opportunities are equal, there is still a strong belief in the idea of free enterprise, or that competition is good. This idea is what American capitalism is rooted in. And despite many other western democracies, notably in Europe, enacting more social welfare reform in the 20th century, ideas that have ties to socialism or even socialist undertones remain largely unpopular with at least half of the country. Roughly 50% of Americans agree that competition leads to hard work, better prices, and new innovations.
Finally, the last concept which is central to American’s perception of government is the rule of law. This practice is necessary for any country to be considered an established democracy. Rule of law is the idea that the laws are followed and everyone is held equally accountable to them. While we can admit historically that not everyone was truly equal under our law, the concept was applied based on societal norms for the time. The importance of our court system at upholding and expanding this concept to include more marginalized groups has grown over time. That being said, more and more Americans today recognize that the justice system doesn’t treat everyone fairly. Statistics show that people of color are more likely to be arrested and imprisoned than their white counterparts. While this is not a new trend, the fact that 65% of Americans agree that black people are disproportionately targeted, is. The last couple of years have also made Americans question the role of policing in the country. Even before the major news stories of the police in 2020, nearly half of Americans said they thought the police were above the law, which is a direct contrast to what rule of law is supposed to be. The public perception surrounding police and the rule of law, just like equal opportunity continues to evolve with time; it is not static and will continue to change based on society’s experiences and expectations.
To recap……
American attitudes of government and politics are complex and influenced by a variety of factors. While most Americans still have some faith in the five core beliefs, concepts regarding equality, whether that be access to opportunities or experiences with the justice system, continue to evolve as Americans are more willing to recone with the past and the reality of the current system.
Coming up next on the APsolute RecAP US Government and Politics edition: Public Opinion
Today’s Question of the day is about The Pledge of Allegiance.
Question: When was the expression “under God” added to the Pledge?