Pol 164: Public Opinion MIDTerm Major topics ALL SOLUTION 100%CORRECT SPRING FALL-2022 LATEST GUARANTEED GRADE A+
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POL 164 (POL164)
Institution
University Of California, Davis
● Definition and ambiguity of “public opinion”
○ Notoriously difficult to define, no one has advanced a definition that satisfies a substantial number of students in the field.
■ Book: The preferences of the adult population on matters of relevance to government.
○ Public opinion is ...
copy of pol 164 public opinion midterm major topics
● definition and ambiguity of “public opinion”
● arguments against following public opinion ○ flaws of individuals …
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Pol 164: Public Opinion MIDTerm Major
topics ALL SOLUTION 100%CORRECT
SPRING FALL-2022 LATEST GUARANTEED
GRADE A+
● Definition and ambiguity of “public opinion”
○ Notoriously difficult to define, no one has advanced a definition that satisfies a
substantial number of students in the field.
■ Book: The preferences of the adult population on matters of relevance to
government.
○ Public opinion is not only a part of the new, they are news
○ Public opinion polls: are indirect measures of public opinion
Arguments in favor of the public
● no better alternative
● Public become more liberal in its orientation when we are more successful in
terms of resources.
○ However, when deficits and inflation hit, people want to cut back
○ Aggregate public has a rational mind of its own
● The rise of fascism
○ Germany and italy
■ Had been mistreated under the versailles treaty
■ Such a loss of life, that they wanted to punish something
○ People are open to manipulations.
● Arguments against following public opinion
○ Flaws of Individuals ….
■ respond to emotions and rumors
● Governed by an unruly crowd
● React based on rage and anger, no reason and fact
● Crowd’s actions are unstable and can be manipulated..
○ Demagogues
○ Stereotypes, Scapegoats and unfounded claims
■ Civil liberties, rights rule by law fall before the angry mob
○ Political Theory…
■ Ancient Theorists
● Plato
○ Reinforced the idea that we are incapable of reasoned
argument
● Aristotle
○
■ Machiavelli (The Prince)
● The fickle nature of man and self centeredness
, ● Lack of principle, always looking out for themselves.
● Will turn against you in your time of need.
● Men are easy to manipulate
■ Karl Marx
● The public, by definitions, are a set of dupes. Those who control
the means of productions have the power, and there is no other
independent source of power.
■ Adolf Hitler and Josef Goebbels
● Came to power in a democratic election
○ Used the loss of WWI and Economic hardship to acquire
power
○ Masters at use of propaganda to build support
■ Movies
■ Campaign appealing to youth
■ Campaign to get people to work in the weapons
industry.
○ Mobilized Citizens for total war.
■ 13% of the German Population killed and wounded
in the war.
*** Even though we generally act in a reasonable fashion, in times of crisis under
the leadership of people who don't have the country's best interest at heart will
use scapegoats, and seek to expand their own power.
■ Liberal Thinkers..
● Thomas Hobbes
● James Madison
○ Majority factions can rise and be seduced by the whim of
the moments
○ Pit factions against factions as a check
● John Locke
● Ideals that citizens and governing elites should
fulfill in a representative democracy
○ Citizens
■ Interested (or motivated) enough to
● Learn about issues, institutions, policies and leaders
● Choose to participate politically
■ Competent
● Think rationally about…
○ Acquiring credible information
○ Linking means to ends in making choices
● Able to identify what they want, in principle
■ Aggregate: Well-informed majority rules
● Knowledge levels among the Average Citizen
○ Institutions
, ■ Know that Congress has power to declare war
53%
■ Name all 3 branches gov’t 49 %
■ Can name at least one Supreme Court Justice
35%
■ Bill of Rights prohibits official religion 27%
■ Identify Chief Justice of supreme court 8%,
■ Speaker of the house 23%
■ Their Rep n the House of Rep’s 47%
■ BUT: 76% can identify their astrological sign and
89% can correctly identify bart simpson.
○ Policy (Again lacking the most basic understanding and
engagement
■ IRAQ
● Iraq directly involved in 9/11 attacks 22%
● 2) Iraq gave substantial support to al-
Qaeda, but not involved in 9/11 35%
● 3) A few al-Qaeda individuals visited Iraq or
had contact with Iraqi officials 29%
● 4) There was no connection at all June
2003 4%
■ Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the
Sept 11th attacks (september 2003)
● Very Likely 32%
● Somewhat Likely 37%
● Not very Likely 12%
● Not likely at all 3%
■ American’s are uninformed, but they know it.
● Affordable Care Act/ Obama care
○ Opposed 52-42 in latest polls
○ But, 69 feel they don’t have enough
informations.
○ Governing Elites
■ Run for office and take Policy positions
■ Challenge: Number and Diversity of national issues
■ They form Political coalitions on most issues
■ Frame elections as choice of competing platforms of policy position
■ Solution: Ideology of left/ liberalism and right/ conservatism
■ Implement promises once in office
*Poststratification Weighting: Effective, but imperfective.
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