t The ideal of the free

individual has had a

profound effect on the
way Americans view
their government.
Traditionally, there has
been a deep suspicion
that government is
the natural enemy of
freedom, even if it is
elected by the people.
The bigger and stronger
the government
becomes, the more
dangerous many
Americans believe it
is to their individual The Signing of the Declaration of Independence, a painting by John Trumbull
freedom.*
2 This suspicion of strong government goes of the Constitution are more concerned
back to the men who led the American with keeping the government from doing
Revolution in 1776. These men believed evil than with enabling it to do good.
the government of Great Britain wanted The national government, for example, is
to di~courage the freedom and economic divided into three separate branches. This
opportunities of the American colonists division of governmental power is based
by excessive taxes and other measures on the belief that if any one part or branch
that would ultimately benefit the British of government has all, or even most of
aristocracy and monarchy. Thomas Paine, the power, it will become a threat to the
the famous revolutionary writer, expressed freedom of individual citizens.
the view of other American revolutionists 4 The legislative or lawmaking branch of
when he said," ... Government even in the government is called the Congress.
its best state is but a necessary evil; in its Congress has two houses-the Senate,
worst state, an intolerable 1 one ... " with two senators from each state
regardless of the size of its population,
The Organization of the American and the House of Representatives, consisting
Government of a total of 435 representatives divided
3 The way in which the national among the fifty states by population. (In
government is organized in the US. the House, states with large populations
Constitution provides an excellent have more representatives than states with
illustration of the American suspicion small populations, while in the Senate,
of governmental power. The provisions each state has equal representation.) The
·It is important to note that all 50 states have state governments, and within the states there are local governments at
the city and/or county level, all ofwhich have their own laws, police,- and court systems. According to the Constitution,
states have all powers not given to the national (or federal) government. !{there is a conflict between a state law and a
national law, the national law prevails.
1
intolerable: too difficult, bad, or annoying to accept or deal with

Government and Politics in the United States * 153

 president, or chief executive, heads the 7 On the other hand, the president may
executive branch, which has responsibility prevent a bill passed by Congress from
to carry out the laws. The Supreme Court becoming law. When both houses of
and lower national courts make up the Congress have agreed on a piece of
judicial branch. The judicial branch settles legislation or a resolution, it is sent to the
disputes about the exact meaning of the president. The president has ten days to
law through court cases. It both interprets act, not counting Sundays. At that point,
the law and determines whether the law is there are four possibilities:
constitutional-that is, whether the law is 1. The president agrees with the bill, signs
permitted under the US. Constitution. it, and it becomes law.
5 If any one of the three branches starts 2. The president disagrees with the bill,
to abuse 2 its power, the other two may vetoes it, and sends it back to the
Congress with his or her reasons for
join together to stop it, through a system
refusing to sign it. If two-thirds of
of checks and balances. The Constitution both the House and the Senate vote to
is most careful .in balancing the powers override the president's veto, the bill
of the legislative and executive branches becomes law.
of the government because these two 3. The president may take no action and
(Congress and the president) are the most after ten days (not counting Sundays),
powerful of the three branches. In almost the bill becomes law without his
every important area of governmental signature.
activity, such as the power to make laws, 4. If the Congress adjourns 3 before the
to declare war, or to conclude treaties with ten-day period is over, and the president
foreign countries, the Constitution gives has neither signed nor vetoed the bill,
each of these two branches enough power it is defeated. This is called a pocket veto.
to prevent the other from acting on its Presidents sometimes do this with bills
they do not like but do not want to go
own.
on record as having vetoed.
6 Observers from other countries are
8 Although the ·American system of
often confused by the American system.
divided governmental power strikes
The national government may seem to
many observers as inefficient and even
speak with two conflicting voices, that
disorganized, most Americans still strongly
of the president and that of Congress.
believe in it for two reasons: (1) It has been
For example, a treaty with a foreign
able to meet the challenges of the past, and
government signed by the president dies if
(2) it gives strong protection to individual
the Senate refuses to ratify it-that is, if the
freedoms.
Senate doesn't vote to accept it. The Senate
has certain powers over foreign treaties 9 In addition to dividing government powers
and, with the House, military actions. into three branches, the Constitution
This requires the president to have "the includes a Bil~ of Rights that is designed
advice and consent of the Senate" before to protect specific individual rights and
taking certain actions on the international freedoms from government interference.
front. The Senate also must approve all the Some of the guarantees in the Bill of
members of the president's cabinet, such as Rights concern the freedom of expression.
the Secretary of State and the Secretary of The government may not interfere with an
Defense. individual's freedom of speech or freedom
2
abuse: to deliberately use power or authority for the wrong purpose
3 adjourns: stops meeting for a short time

154 *: Chapter 7
 of religious worship, or the right to are separate from each other, it is quite
assemble (get together). The Bill of Rights possible in the American system to have
also guarantees the right of a fair criminal the leader of one political party win the
procedure for those accused of breaking presidency while the other major political
laws. These rights are sometimes called party wins a majority of the seats in
"due process." They include provisions Congress. Thus, the Republicans may
that someone accused of a crime must be control one house, while the Democrats
charged with the crime and is presumed may control the other. During the late
innocent until proven guilty. The accused 1900s, while most of the presidents
has the right to an attorney, and there were Republican, the Democrats often
must be a trial declaring someone guilty controlled one or both of the houses of
before punishment is given. Thus, the Congress. In 1994, the reverse happened:
Bill of Rights is another statement of the While Bill Clinton, a Democrat, was
American belief in the importance of president, the Republicans won control
individual freedom. of both the House of Representatives and
the Senate. Then in the early 2000s, for a
The Election of the President and the time, the Republican Party controlled the
Congress presidency (George W Bush) and both
10 The president and both houses of houses of Congress. The presidency of
Congress have almost complete . Barack Obama (a Democrat) has again
political independence from each other seen divided government; after the first
because they are all chosen in separate two years, in both of his terms the House
elections. For example, the election was controlled by the Republicans, and the
of the Congress does not determine Senate was controlled by Democrats.
who will be elected president, and the 12 In order to understand what is happening
presidential election does not determine in Washington, it is important to know
who will be elected to either house of not only the party of the president, but
Congress. This system is quite different also which parties control the House
from the way a parliamentary system of and the Senate. Because both the House
government chooses a prime minister. of Representatives and the Senate must
Another difference is that there are only agree on all legislation before it goes to the
two important political parties in the president, legislation may pass one house
United States: the Democrats, who are. but be blocked in the other. Furthermore,
traditionally liberal or progressive, and the the party in control of the House or
Republicans, who are more conservative. Senate has the potential of changing every
In parliamentary systems, there may be a two years. Members of the House of
number of significant political parties that Representatives are elected for two-year
must agree to form a government, while terms, while senators serve six-yeat; terms.

l 11
in the United States this is not the case.
The president, the representatives, and the
senators are all chosen by the American
citizens in elections.
Because th~ elections of the president and 13
The Senate terms are staggered4 so that
only one-third of the senators run forre-
election each time the House elections are
held, every two years.
Presidential elections are held every four
members of the two houses of Congress years, on the first Tuesday in November.

4
staggered: arranged so that their terms of office (time serving as a senator or representative) do not all begin and end at
the same time

Government and Politics in the United States * 155

 When the Constitution was written, the won the most electoral votes and became
founding fathers had a disagreement about president. (In the 2004 election between
how the president should be elected. Some George W. Bush and John Kerry, the
did not want the members of Congress electoral college was not an issue, because
to choose the president, and others were Bush won both the popular vote and the
afraid to leave the choice entirely to the electoral vote.)
voters. The result was a compromise-the
15 The result of the election of 2000 sent
electoral college, a system for indirectly
shock waves through the American
electing the president. The system persists
political system. One reason was that the
today In presidential elections, people
vote was incredibly close, and several
are actually voting for representatives
states had to count their votes a second
called electors, and it is these electors who
time. The state with the most controversial
officially choose the president. With the
results was Florida, where the governor
electoral college system, the winner of the
of the state was Jeb Bush, George W.
plurality5 (the highest number) of each
Bush's brother. Although Gore had won
state's popular votes gets all of that state's
the popular vote nationwide, whoever
electoral votes, in most cases. (There are
won the twenty-five Florida electoral votes
several exceptions.) The number of each
would win the election. The recounts of
state's electoral votes is equal to the total
the votes in Florida showed Bush winning
number of their representatives in the
by fewer than 1,000 votes out of almost
House and the Senate. Though the number
six million votes cast. After a series of
of electoral votes varies according to each
legal challenges, the U.S. Supreme Court
state's population, it is still possible for
decided about a month after the election
a person to be elected president without
that the Florida state legislature had the
getting the highest number of the popular,
right to stop recounting the ballots and
or individual, votes.
certify the electoral votes. The Supreme
14 Although Americans were aware of the Court ruled that a state has the ultimate
electoral college system, the average voter right to determine how its electors are
did not give it much thought until the chosen.
election of 2000. There had been only
three previous instances of presidents The Ideal of the Free Individual
ever losing the popular vote but winning 16 In the late 1700s, most Americans
the electoral vote, and it seemed a remote expected the new national government
possibility. The last time it had happened created by the Constitution to leave them
was in 1888, when Benjamin Harrison alone to pursue their individual goals.
won the presidency, even though Grover They believed the central purpose of
Cleveland had the majority of popular government was to create the conditions
votes. All through the 1900s, the presidents most favorable to the development of the
who were elected had won at least a free individual.
plurality, (the highest number of the
popular votes), in addition to winning the 17 Before the Civil War of the 1860s, the
electoral votes. However, in the election of American ideal of the free individual was
2000, AI Gore, the Democratic candidate, the frontier settler and the small farmer.
President Thomas Jefferson expressed this
won more popular votes than George W.
Bush, the Republican candidate, but Bush ideal when he said, "Those who labor in
5
plurality: the number of votes received by the winning person in an election where there are three or more people trying
to be elected

156 *: Chapter 7
 the earth are the chosen people of God, if government to regulate businesses, protect
ever he had a chosen people... ."Jefferson consumers and workers, and also to solve
glorified farmers for being free individuals social problems. Not surprisingly, it was a
who relied on no one but themselves for Democratic president who presided over
their daily needs. Being dependent on none the creation of "big government."
but themselves, farmers, he believed, were
21 The Great Depression of the 1930s
the most honest of citizens. Throughout
greatly weakened the businessperson's
his life Jefferson favored a small, weak
position as the American ideal of the free
form of government, which he believed
individual, and big business lost respect.
would encourage the development of a
The Depression also created the need for
nation of free, self-reliant farmer citizens.
emergency government action to help the
18 From the end of the Civil War until needy on a scale never befor~ seen in the
the Great Depression of the 1930s, the United States in peacetime. As a result, the
successful businessperson replaced the idea that government should be small and
farmer and the frontier settler as the inactive was largely abandoned. Moreover,
ideal expression of the free individual. the ideal of the free individual underwent
The prevailing view of Americans was some very important changes.
that government should not interfere
22 The widespread unemployment and other
in business. If it were to do so, it would
economic hardships of the Depression
threaten the development of free
gave rise to the new assumption 6 that
individuals whose competitive spirit, self-
individuals could not be expected to
reliance, and hard work were developing
rely solely on themselves in providing
the United States into a land of greater and
for their economic security. This new
greater material prosperity.
assumption, in turn, led to a large and
19 Government, therefore, remained small active role for the national government
and inactive in relation to the great size in helping individuals meet their daily
of the nation and the amount of power needs. The Democratic Party, led by
held by business corporations. Some President Franklin Roosevelt, brought
government regulations were in place about a number of changes in the 1930s,
during this period, but these had only which he referred to as a "New Deal" for
a small impact on business practices. Americans.
From the 1870s until the 1930s, business
23 Even with the return of prosperity after
organizations and ideas dominated
the Depression and World War II (1941-
American government and politics. During
1945), the growth of government's role in
much of this time, the Republican Party
helping to provide economic security for
was in power, and it strongly supported
individuals did not end. It continued in
these policies.
the prosperous postwar years, and it was
greatly expanded during the presidency
The Development of Big Government
of another Democrat, Lyndon Johnson,
20 Traditionally, Republicans have favored in the 1960s. Roosevelt's New Deal grew
letting businesses compete with little into what some saw as a permanent
or no government regulation: Let the "welfare state" that provided payments
free enterprise system regulate itself for retired persons, government checks
in the marketplace. On the other hand, for the unemployed, support for families
Democrats have traditionally favored using
6
assumption: something you think is true although you have no proof

Government and Politics in the United States * 157

 with dependent children and no father to it is more important for everyone to be
provide income, health care for the poor free to pursue their life's goals without
and the elderly, and other government interference from the state, while just 36%
benefits. Johnson called the new welfare say it is more important for the state to play
programs "The Great Society." an active role in society so as to guarantee
that nobody is in need.
The Controversy over Entitlements 26 Americans generally are not in favor of
24 The development of big government, and European-style socialism that guarantees
the establishment of government social benefits for all who are needy. Indeed,
programs, is not without controversy. some consider socialism a potentially
On the one hand, some Americans fear dangerous, foreign economic system. Some
that economic security provided by the conservatives have accused President
government will weaken self-reliance, an Obama of being a socialist for some of his
ideal that is closely associated in the minds liberal stands. On the other hand, most
of Americans with individual freedom. At Americans believe that their national
worst, it presents a danger to individual government should provide some kind
freedom by making an increasing of "safety net" to take care of people in
number of Americans dependent on the certain circumstances such as temporary
government instead of on themselves. loss of employment, damages from a
In this way, the strong traditions of natural disaster such as a hurricane, and of
individualism and self-reliance have course retirement. It is interesting that the
made Americans less accepting of social term for these benefits has changed. We
programs than the citizens of other used to make a distinction between welfare
democracies such as those in Western benefits and entitlements. Programs such
Europe, which have more extensive social as unemployment benefits, food stamps,
programs than those of the United States. and Medicaid (health care for the poor),
were known as "welfare." Social Security
25 A Pew Research study reveals the contrast and Medicare (health care for the retired)
between European and American attitudes: were seen as "entitlements," because
WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT working Americans and their employers
pay into these systems. Therefore, when
Nobody Fredom to pursue
in need life's goals
workers retire, they consider that they have
paid for these benefits and they are entitled
U.S. 58 ·. ' to them. Now the term welfare is almost
never used, and all these government
Britain
benefits are referred to as entitlements.
Germany 27 While most Americans would believe
that the national government should
France provide them with some support, if
they should need it, they may disagree
Spain about how much support and for how
long. Democrats generally favor more
generous support from the government
American opinions continue to differ
considerably from those of Western than Republicans do. Republicans believe
Europeans when it comes to views of in a smaller role for the government
individualism and the role of the state. and a greater emphasis on individual
Nearly six-in-ten (58%) Americans believe responsibility. During the 2012 election,

158 * Chapter 7
 Republican presidential candidate Mitt T he Role of Special Interest Groups
Romney was overheard saying that 4 7 30 Over time, practically all social and
percent of Americans were dependent on economic classes of Americans have
government support and saw themselves seen the need to take advantage of, or
as victims who could not take care of to protect themselves from, the actions
themselves: of government, especially the national
There ore 47 percent of the people who government. To accomplish this, Americans
will vote for the president no matter what with similar interests have formed
. .. who ore dependent upon government, special interest groups to more effectively
who believe that they ore victims . . .. influence the actions of government. These
These ore people who pay no income
special interest groups are often called
tax ... and so my job is not to worry
about those people. I'll never convince "lobbying 8 groups" or "pressure groups."
them that they should toke personal Although lobbying groups have existed
responsibility and core for their lives . throughout the nation's history, they have
grown significantly in both numbers and
28 In fact, about half of all American
power since the late 1900s.
households have someone who receives
some aid from the federal government. 31 The National Rifle Association (mentioned
However, this number includes people in Chapter 4) is an example of a powerful
who are retired and are receiving Social . and effective lobby. Its members are mostly
Security and Medicare benefits, now about people who own guns for hunting, target
14 percent of the population, plus another practice, and personal protection. The
2 percent who are receiving other Social NRA, however, receives a great deal of
Security benefits. Most Americans believe money from business corporations that
that they have earned the right to having manufacture guns. Because of the attitudes
Social Security and Medicare when they and interests of its members, the NRA
retire, but the problem is that these benefits strongly opposes almost all government
now take about one-third of the federal restrictions on the sale of all handguns,
budget. rifles, shotguns, and even semi-automatic
and assault weapons. Even though most of
29 As the population ages, there are fewer
the general public favors some gun control
younger workers and their employers
measures, the NRA has always been able
paying Social Security taxes into the
to block the passage of most gun-control
system, and more retired workers taking
legislation. (See poll on page 16 7.)
money out. Americans are living longer
in retirement, and their medical expenses
are rising. Because older America:t;IS are
more likely than young people to vote,
politicians pay particular attention to their
needs. They want the older Americans'
votes. However, as budget deficits 7 grow,
the reality is that some adjustments to
all entitlements are likely to be needed,
including Social Security and Medicare.

7 deficit: the difference between the amount of money that a government spends and the amount that it takes in from
taxes and other activities
8 lobbying: trying to influence the government or someone with political power so that they make laws favorable to you

Government and Politics in the United States * 159

 GUN RIGHTS PROPONENTS
33 Although few interest groups have been as
MORE POLITICALLY ACTIVE successful as the NRA, most well-organized
Among those who prioritize ... interest groups have achieved a large
• Gun rights • Gun control
measure of success. By organizing into
groups which put pressure on government
Contributed money to an - 23
organization that takes a officials, people can gain more rewards and
position on gun policy Is avoid more government restrictions than if
Contacted a public -
they tried to do it as individuals.
15
official to express
opinion on gun policy li s 34 With this principle in mind, business interest
· groups have multiplied in recent decades so
Expressed opinion on gun - 19
policy on a social network that most major trades, businesses, and even
like Facebook or Twitter - 15 professions have their lobbyists in Washington.
There are influential lobbies representing
Signed a petition - 12
on gun policy •
labor unions, farm groups, teachers, doctors,
10
lawyers, and specific industries such as oil and
42 natural gas, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.
NET: One or more activity -
25 Interest groups representing ethnic groups
Source: Pew Research Center such as African Americans, Native Americans,
Mexican Americans, and Jewish Americans
32 Those who are concerned about the
have also expanded. There are also interest
right to own guns are more likely to be
groups representing a variety of ideals or causes
politically active. The public sees both
that want government support. These include
parties as being supportive of their views
groups pressing for a clean environment
on gun control/gun rights-conservative
and those promoting greater protection for
Republicans are more concerned about
consumers. As one congressman exclaimed,
their right to own guns, and liberal
"Everybody in America has a lobby!"
Democrats are more likely to favor stricter
gun control laws. 35 The political tendency of recent decades is
for the size of the
government to bring
about an increase in the
number and size of
interest groups, and for
the greater demands
made on the government.
by interest groups to
increase the size of the
government. Groups
such as the AARP
(American Association
of Retired Persons)
not only demand new
government programs,
regulations, and benefits
for their members, they
also strongly resist any
Interest groups represent a variety of populations in the United States.

160 * Chapter 7
 attempts to reduce existing programs that they 38 Second, members of special interest groups
believe protect their interests, such as Social contribute large sums of money to election
Security and Medicare. The result of this campaigns. Because candidates must rely
continuing cycle can be referred to as "interest mostly on private, not public, funding, they
group government." No single interest are often forced to depend on special interest
dominates government and politics as business groups for their campaign funds. Candidates
groups did before the Great Depression. at all levels of government-national, state,
Instead, government and politics are based on and local-must spend enormous amounts of
reaching compromises with a large number of their time raising funds for their re-election.
groups and pleasing as many as possible. For example, because members of the House
of Representatives are elected every two
The New Individualism: Interest-Group years, they engage in continual fundraising.
Government Senators and presidential candidates are also
36 Interest-group government can be seen pressured. The situation has become so bad
as expressing a new form of American that many people are agreeing with the
individualism. Unlike the old frontier or statement, "We have the best government
business individualism, individuals do not that money can buy!" There have been
claim to succeed on their own, but rather by efforts to reform the system, but the
forming groups to influence the government. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision in
Still, it is individuals, their rights, their 2010 ruled that corporations, individuals, and
interests, and their ambitions, not those of the labor unions could make unlimited
nation as a whole, that are the focus of their contributions to political campaigns through
attention. The interest group is no more than Super PACs (Political Action Committees).
a tool to achieve the goals of the individual In the presidential election of 2012, Super
by influencing the government. PACs spent over $524 million, according
to the Federal Election Commission.
37 Although many Americans have benefited
in some way from government-sponsored The Political Landscape in the 2000s: Red
programs, some experts believe that States vs. Blue States
interest-group government is harmful to
39 In reporting the results of presidential
the United States. The effect on politicians
elections, TV news reports show the map of
is enormous. First, interest groups often
the United States with red states (awarding
focus on one issue that is more important to
the state's electoral votes to the Republican
their members than all others. For example,
candidate), and blue states (giving the
some people feel very strongly that abortion
electoral votes to the Democratic candidate).
should not be legal in the United States.
These colors have come to symbolize the
They may choose to vote for candidates
deep divisions in America. In Obama's
primarily because of their stand on the
first national speech at the Democratic
abortion issue. Generally, because their
Convention in 2004, he offered his vision
members feel so strongly, lobby groups are
qf a country where we are not red states or
able to promise that their members will
blue states-we are one people-the United
vote for a candidate if he or she promises to
States of America. But the divisions persist.
support their issue once elected. The NRA
gives members of Congress grades for their 40 In Barack Obama and the New America:
voting record on gun control, and it has The 2012 Election and the Changing Face
been particularly effective in re-electing or of Politics, Alan Abramowitz says the
defeating senators and representatives. American voters are strongly divided

Government and Politics in the United Sta'tes * 161

------- ----
 VT, 3
NH,4
MA, 11
Rl, 4
CT, 7
NJ, 14
IH'i---Dl, 3
-""''----- MD, 10
DC, 3

GJ Red states
D Blue states

-· .., Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

along party lines. In an unusually partisan traditionally had more support from non-
election, over 90 percent of the Democrats white Americans than the Republicans,
voted for Obama, and over 90 percent of but this election brought people of all
the Republicans voted for Romney. Even races together behind a candidate that
the Independents, now about one-third of promised "hope and change"-an America
the electorate, were split 50/50 Obama/ where the ultimate American Dream could
Romney. Also, more than 90 percent come true. Some believed that it was a
of voters chose their House or Senate fluke, 9 something that happens only by
representatives according to their party. chance or luck. But Obama captured the
Abramowitz says that this unusual degree imagination of millions of Americans.
of party loyalty reflects the deep divisions Young voters were energized for the
in American society: first time since the anti-war movements
A close examination of the voting patterns of the 1960s and early 1970s, and also
in 2012 demonstrates the existence of for the first time, social media played an
three major divisions between Democrats important role. Obama built a grass-roots
and Republicans-a racial divide between organization where his campaigners came
a Democratic Party increasingly dependent to know potential voters personally, and
on votes from non-whites and an many Americans felt like they were part
overwhelmingly white Republican Party an of history. Well over a million people stood
ideological divide over the role and size
of government, and a cultural divide over outside in the freezing weather on the
values, morality and lifestyle. Washington, D.C., Mall in January, 2009,
to watch Obama's inauguration on huge
4 1 First, the racial divide. Barack Obama's TV screens.
winning the presidency in 2008 was
truly a historical event. For the first time 42 Obama's re-election in 2012 proved that
ever, the United States had an African- his winning in 2008 was not a fluke.
American president. The Democrats had Obama lost a number of white voters, but
9 fluke: something that only happens because of chance or luck

162 * Chapter 7
 his coalition of non-white PERCENTAGE OF EACH STATE'S POPUlATION THAT
voters held. By 2012, 28 AFFiliATES WITH EVANGEliCAl PROTESTANT TRADITION
percent of the voting public
were non-white: African
Americans, Hispanics,
Asian Americans, and other
non-whites. Republicans
were greatly surprised by
Obama's victory and realized
that it reflected a new f ,o ~ ' ...
reality in the United States:
In spirit, the country has L ~"~ 51-100
41-50

already become the multi- I . -1 31-40

21-30
racial, multicultural country
the demographers predicted I -(;\:
for 2050. We do not have to l ',;',; ~ ,.._ __ t Source: Pew Research Center
11-20
6-10
3-5
0-2
wait thirty or forty years to
see the political effects of being a majority- and environmental regulations; and the
minority country-the demographic repeal of the Obama health care law,
shift is already affecting elections. The while cutting taxes on upper income
Republican Party is in search of a new households and corporations. Obama and
direction. Because the Republican Party the Democrats called for more government
hopes to attract new voters, it will have to regulation of financial institutions and
appeal to Hispanics, African Americans, corporate polluters, higher taxes on
Asian Americans, and other non-white upper income Americans to fund social
voters. The color of the electoral map is programs, and full implementation of the
also changing, as Democratic Hispanic new health care law.
populations in states such as New Mexico,
44 Third, the cultural divide over values,
Colorado, and Nevada are starting to turn
morality, and lifestyles. Republicans have
these red states blue.
increasingly built an alliance with religious
43 Second, the ideological divide over the conservatives of all faiths, particularly
role and size of the national government. evangelical Christians. Republicans have
Republicans have traditionally believed become associated with traditional values
that big government is not only inefficient, and lifestyles, such as limiting access to
it also endangers individual rights abortions and opposition to gay marriage
and freedoms. In 2012, the Tea Party* and other rights for homosexuals. They
pushed the Republican Party more to the have also been against some birth control
very conservative right, insisting that methods, including the "morning after"
government spending is the cause of pill. In the meantime, the Democratic
all economic problems and demanding Party has moved further left on these
severe budget cuts. Romney campaigned issues. Obama allowed gays to serve
on a plan to reduce huge budget deficits openly in the military, and he called for
through significant cuts in social programs; gays' right to marry and other minority
the elimination of many health, safety, rights in his second inaugural address.
·The Tea Party is a very conservative grass-roots movement originally organized by people who were worried about
growing government debt (the amount of money owed). The name refers to the Boston Tea Party when American
colonists threw tea into the Boston Harbor to protest the British tax on tea.

Government and Politics in the United States * 163

45 The country as a whole has become schools and businesses to provide _the
more liberal on these social issues, with a educated workforce of the future.
majority now favoring gay marriage and
48 In Our Divided Political Heart: The Battle for
the right to abortion in early months of a
the American Idea in an Age of Discontent,
pregnancy. Most young people are more
E.J. Dionne, Jr. urges Americans to look
liberal and less religious than their parents,
back at their history to understand who
so the demographics favor the Democrats
they are as a people. They must recognize
in the future. Other lifestyle differences
that from the beginning, Americans have
include the legalization of marijuana
lived with a tension between two core
and the passage of laws recognizing,gay
values: their love of individualism and
marriage in a number of states. A look
their respect for community. These two
at the red state/blue state map shows
values work together to give the nation
the Democratic strength in the liberal
balance, and both values interact with the
Northeast and West coast states and the
important value of equality.
big cities, while Republicans find their
supporters in the more conservative South 49 Obama has spoken about this need for
and in rural areas. balance between the individualism of
private business and the community of
Finding the Way Forward common government:
46 Both the Republicans and the Democrats From our first days as a nation, we have
truly believe that they have the roadmap put our faith in free markets and free
that will lead the United States to a enterprise as the engine of Americas
safe and prosperous future. Republicans wealth and prosperity. More than citizens
believe the country's economic difficulties of any other countr'/t we are rugged
are due to a spending problem, while
individualists, a self-reliant people with a
healthy skepticism of too much government.
Democrats believe it is an income problem.
Republicans believe that dependence on But there has always been another thread
entitlements seriously weakens individual running throughout our history-a belief
that we are all connected; and that there
freedom and responsibility. They believe
are some things we can only do togetheG
that Americans are living beyond their as a nation. . . . The America I know is
means, borrowing money they need to generous and compassionate; a land
run a larger and larger government, and of opportunity and optimism. We take
creating a terrible financial burden for responsibility for ourselves and each other;
their children and grandchildren. for the country we want and the future we
share.
4 7 Democrats are concerned about the
widening gap between those who are very, 50 Obama is expressing a belief in the role
very wealthy and those who are very, very traditional American values play in the _
poor. They believe that the government nation and its government. The twenty-
can protect individual freedom by first century will continue to offer
passing laws that ensure equal access to challenges to the United States citizens and
health care and jobs for all Americans, its government leaders. Hopefully, the six
and by showing the way forward with basic cultural values-individual freedom,
government programs that will engage self-reliance, equality of opportunity,
private businesses in cooperative projects competition, material wealth, and hard
to rebuild needed infrastructure, roads and work will continue to guide and direct the
bridges, and create partnerships between United States and its people in the future.

164 *: Chapter 7