POLS 1602 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Alexis De Tocqueville, Sarah Palin, Cognitive Dissonance
Document Summary
There are many men of principle in both parties in america, but there is no party of principle. alexis de tocqueville. Viewed political parties as just some interest groups not really battling. In the 1950"s, only 15 percent self-identified as independents ( not smart enough to choose) today it is at 45% Party considered more important than economics, foreign policy, personality. Winner- take all districts (as well as states) does not reward third parties. Reagan made a deal with the blue dog democrats . Candidate-centered politics bill clinton won in 1992 because of the economy (not because he is a democrat) Many registered democrats voted for bush in 2004 because of fears of terrorism. Two models of democracy: the majoritatian model of democracy. Parties link people to government by making government responsive. Parties function as giant interest groups- democrtas, cierra club, republicans. Except in extreme cases, the parties care little about candidate ideologies if they can win.
