Appendix B -- In class, with Mikel

Mikel E. Townsley
Kendra M. Rhodes
11.25.08
HSP402
In Class Assignment

1.What is the definition of a political ideology?
“An ideology is a system of values and beliefs regarding the various institutions and processes of society that is accepted as a fact or truth by a group of people” (Sargent, 2006, p3). What differentiates an ideology from a political ideology is simply the nature of the word. The definition of an ideology is interchangeable with the definition of a political ideology. What makes a political ideology is in essence an ideology of political nature.

2.Why study ideologies in a human services program?
I think it’s extremely important to have some awareness or understanding of ideologies and how they relate, create and impact the field of human services. Ideologies are, very benignly defined, a looking glass for how we view the world and certain things in it. An ideology can impact how we see the world because they act as the lenses for viewing. If the ideology (lenses) is blue then the world is seen in a blue hue, just as it would be if it were a pair of red lenses.
To study ideologies is become more conscious and aware of how our belief systems and understanding of the world around us impact our decision-making.

3.What is a system of governance?
The political system is representative of the entirety of all other systems; the ideological system and the social system. The political system is what governs and dictates all other systems under the guise of policies implemented by a governing whole, in other words, the government. With the political system, decisions are made that bind all other systems, it is the system of governance.

4.What is a system of economics?
“The economic system is concerned with the production, distribution and consumption of wealth, as well as the relationship to political system” (Sargent, 2006, p17). Examples of a system of economics are capitalism, socialist and mixed economies.

5.What is the difference between conservative and liberal?
Conservatism within the democracy today are interested in conserving something. They are resistant to change, have reverence for tradition and a distrust of human reason, rejection of the use of government to improve the human condition, ambivalence regarding governmental activity for other purposes, preference for individual freedom but willingness to limit freedom to maintain traditional values, anti-egalitarianism distrust of human nature.
Liberalism today is a tendency to favor change, faith in human reason, willingness to use government to improve the human condition, preference for individual freedom but ambivalence about economic freedom, greater optimism about human nature than conservatism.

6. What is capitalism? What are some of its attributes?
“Capitalism is often referred to as free market or laissez-faire capitalism, and is characterized by private ownership of property, no legal limit on the accumulation of property, the free market—no government intervention in the economy, profit is the driving force, profit as the measure of efficiency. In economic terms it means that every individual should be free to pursue their interests. The free market is open for them to accumulate as much profit as they want.” P. 102