Article ID: | iaor2006235 |
Country: | United States |
Volume: | 17 |
Issue: | 1 |
Start Page Number: | 94 |
End Page Number: | 119 |
Publication Date: | Jan 2005 |
Journal: | Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management |
Authors: | Lutrin Carl, Thompson William N., Wacker R. Fred, Vercher Elizabeth |
Keywords: | economics, government, statistics: empirical |
Elazar's typology of politcal cultures is examined. From his categorization of jurisdictions with aspects of ‘moralistic’ political cultures, five are selected: Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Connecticut, and France. Their recent political history is examined and it is demonstrated that these ‘moralistic’ type polities have abandoned policies which formerly condemned or at least contained legalized gambling. Instead each has responded to commercial pressures for expanded gambling. The reasons why ‘moralistic’ values in making decisions in this arena have been cast aside are examined. The reasons include an international cross-polity homogenization of political cultures, a blurring of the meaning of ‘moralistic’ in today's politics, and above all, severe economic crises that take precedence over other values.