Paper: Community Political Profile
Introduce me to your community, introduce me to the people, introduce me to the politics, and teach me about the political culture of your community.
Specific Task:
Introduction.
1) Research and define the meaning of two types of political cultures "conservative" and "progressive". Specify the typical socio-demographics (age, race, income, rural or urban, type of employment industry, etc); political values (examples: specific positions a variety of issues such as taxes, social issues, education, etc.); and political party affiliation of each definition.
2) Make observations about the county/city in which you live (or are from) is it. For example is it: rural vs. urban; agriculture vs. business; family vs. single; large school districts vs. small; college town; older people vs. younger; wealth; all republican candidates lawn signs vs democratic; no GMO vs yes on GMO) and identify the political culture of your community according to the ideological labels identified in class: "progressive", "conservative", or "moderate" (characteristics of both cultures). Then identify your community.
1. Analyze the socio-demographics characteristics of your county.
1) Identify three distinct statistical characteristics of your county and compare them to your observations;
2) Explain how the actual socio-demographics contribution support or do not support your hypothesis about your community's political characteristic.
2. Identify and summarize the following specific political statistics of your county and compare them with state-wide numbers:
1) Party registration (Democrat; Republican; non-affiliated; Independent) in your county.
2) Percentage voting for winning Governor John Kitzhaber in the 2010 election; Compare to the voting percentage for Governor Kitzhaber the 2014 election; Is it higher, lower, or about the same?
Does the voter registration support your political character identification? Why?
Does the voter registration statistics align with the socio-demographics
How does the Governor's election turnout for each candidate support or not support your hypothesis. Is it what you expected? Why or why not?
3) How many people in your county voted in 2012 and in 2014? Which election had more people returning their ballots? Why?
Think back to the psychological factors of voting and why you may or may not have voted; think about the socio-economic factors of voting and based on your research on the socio-economic factors in your county, does your county fit into one the more likely voters' category or least likely category?
3. Analyze how your county voted on two ballot measures from 2006-2012 and one from 2014. Select three ballot measures, explain each issue and what type of voter is likely to support it (i.e. conservative, progressive). Compare the number of "yes" and "no" votes in your county, did it pass in your county? Did your county vote differently or the same as the state overall?
a. What does the outcome say about your county?
b. Did your county turnout support or not support your political culture hypothesis? Why or why not?
c. Where you surprised by the support or rejection of a measures? Why?
4. Identify the state representative and state senator who represent you.
1) Identify your STATE representative and STATE senator (https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/)
a. Identify their party; legislative history; professional background;
b. Do the issues they support and party affiliation reflect the definition that you identified for your political culture of your county?
5. Conclusion
Did your original hypothesis about the political culture of your county prove to be accurate or inaccurate? Why? What does the socio-economic data, political statistics; and state elected official say about your community?