Introduction
- Why learn about government?
- We’re surrounded – literally!
- We complain about more ‘interference’...
- ...BUT...We expect action
- Whether you like it or not, it’s all around us, and it’s not going away...
[audio extra: NPR story 9/30/03, "Size of Government"]
- Government affects everyday life
[video extra: YouTube, "Where
Do Your Tax Dollars Go?"]
Why Government?
- Definition: Institutions & processes used to rule over a territory and its people
- Imagine life without any government: “State of Nature”
- Government requires:
Obedience and Revenue
- Why obedience?
Why Obedience?
- Exercise: Thumb wrestling!
- Web discussion boards, MySpace, Facebook
- Moral?...We’re self-interested
- Need to force compliance
- If so, participation is important
- If policies are too out of step, we stop obeying
[web extra: a real world example, "Timeline:
Egypt's Revolution"]
What Types?
- Monarchy (and absolute monarchy)
- Marxism and Communism
- Totalitarianism and Dictatorship
- Theocracy, Socialism, Anarchy,
and...
- Democracy: What is democracy?
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What Types?
-
With the exception of communism, the trend since the late 17th century is toward democracy.
- Why?
- Growing middle class challenges government
- The French called them "The Bourgeoisie"
The British called them "The Middling Sort"
- Society becomes more interdependent, and...
What is Politics?
- Middle class money drives the economy.
- Solution: give population say in
ruling...
- Brings us to...Politics: Meaning:
Influencing government
-
Harold Lasswell (1902-1978):
- “Who gets what, when, and how."
Myth and Reality
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