Focus: How political ideology shapes social policy
Objectives:
Explain how political ideologies vary on the role of the government in addressing social issues
Explain how different ideologies impact policy on social issues
Political Ideologies and Social Issues
Libertarian Ideology
Core Belief: Minimal government involvement
Social Issues:
Marijuana Legalization: Government should not interfere
Abortion: Government should stay out
Education: No government needed
Summary: Libertarians lean conservative on economic issues but lean liberal on social issues regarding privacy
Liberal Ideology
Core Belief: Broad personal privacy, limited government intervention in private matters
Social Issues:
Abortion: Private decision, no government regulation
Marriage: Gender of spouse is private, no government interference
Marijuana Legalization: Should be left to individuals
Contradiction: Favor government involvement in economic issues (poverty, education, business regulation), but want government out of many social issues
Conservative Ideology
Core Belief: Mixed approach—less government in some social issues, more in others
Social Issues:
Abortion: Not private, should be government-regulated
Marriage: One man and one woman as per government mandate
Gun Ownership: No government regulation
Education: Prefer minimal government intervention, more personal decision
Summary: Favor government intervention in some aspects, reject in others for social issues