POS-1041 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Collective Action
15 Sep 2016
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Why studying american politics is difficult lots of individuals, ideas, institutions, and individuals. Many citizens are not well informed, and there is a clear paradox of government programs; also because americans distrust the government. Citizens collective attitudes and beliefs about politics and the government. Those opinions held by private persons which government finds it prudent to heed. The three conditions that must be met: people know what they want, they can communicate what they want to political leaders, political leaders respond to this communication. Todays views on public opinion: voters have cues", wisdom of crowds, over time broad issues don"t change sharply when they change it makes sense. Other reasons for knowing public opinion through polls; Use the polls to adjust candidate"s policies to match public opinion. Framing their platforms to achieve the most votes. Bandwagon effect if a candidate is ahead, the voter supports the winner. Underdog effect opposite of bandwagon, supports the losing candidate.
