Discussion Questions on U.S. Presidential Elections

(this file includes answers I typed in during class on October 4)
  1. What are some of the main points that a Marxist would make in analyzing U.S. Presidential elections
    2. Economic issues, structure of capitalism.    Class differences, lower or working woujld be closer to Democrats the middle or upper closer to Republicans
    Look at the economic impact of policies and how they affect different classes, especially tax policies.   Democrats and Republicans are supported b y different classes.  Make the system fail by voting for the worst candidate, then the revolution will follow.   vs. the "lesser evil"
    What might Gramsci add to this analysis?  ideological hegemony.  Both are capitalist, its a "tweedle dee, tweedle dum" Naderists would say that both parties are "corporate" - vote for a true socialist or populist party that challenges the system and build a long term movement for change. 
      
  2. How would a Weberian approach differ?   Great men make a difference.  Charismatic leader.  Leadership traits the people relate to...  consistency vs. flexibility.  /  religion and values as determinative.  Homosexual marriage, abortion, reflect religious doctrines.  Protestantism pro democracy, pushing a democratic agenda.   Tilly, a neo-Weberian, stresses war as does Bush.
  3. What are some hypotheses we might derive from Marxist and Weberian theory that could be tested with survey data?
  4. What would a Durkheimian add to this analysis?   The election as a ritual, something that ties the country together, "civil religion" of "democracy".  Non-voters, lower participation. 
  5. What would a Tocquevillian add?  civil society, "interest groups".  Labor unionis, corporations (united as a group?)  trial lawyers. 
  6. How would a Freudian approach the election?   Personality, national father figure?  Family dynami9cs of the candidates.  Faces of the enemy, people need a target for externalizing their frustrations. 
  7. Could we say that the Republicans and/or Democrats are following the guidelines of any of these theories, or any combination of them?
  8. How do each of these theories help us to understand the reasons for  "Metro/Retro" divide?  Thisw ties into religion - fundamentalist vs liberal or secular views.  Also ideas that older, extractive industries are stronger in the retro states. 
  9. How might any of these analyses suggest things that either the Democrats or the Republicans might do differently?
  10. What are some hypotheses that could be drawn from these theories?
  11. Examining the code book for the General Social Survey, what survey items might be used to test these hypotheses?
  12. What items would we like to have that are not included in the GSS.  These may be available in one of the National Election Surveys available through Microcase in the computer lab.  Or we can add them to our own survey.