1. Ideology to me is the concept of a perpetuated view and mentality of how a society should work. Ideology is a set of beliefs and ideas that a great representative of a group represents. I think of ideology in terms of economic and political ideas in the world. Ideology can be good or bad. Ideology has a great influence on the targeted audience that it represents and tries to reason with. People look for various ideologies that match their ideology in mind in the private or public sector. Ideologies can be biased or based on common sense. 

For example nationalism is the ideology that a country should remain to its culture and ways that differentiate it from other countries. Represented by its people, food, culture, life customs and language which makes the country united. 

Ideologies rise and change over time due to the perceptions of the world evolving and information that comes from across the world. The mindset that we have is the most common ideology we program ourselves to in life. The expectations, goals, and opportunities that we look to achieve are what shapes our way of viewing the world based on how we should work and succeed. This is the type of ideology that affects our way of living. It can be good or bad if we ever decide to change our ideas and ways. 

2. The difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics is the role and necessity that the US Government should play in the country. Conservative are considered as right wing and liberals as left wing. Conservatives believe that the government poses a great threat to individual liberty. The government should be limited by the involvement that states and localities hold in power. For conservatives, the free market is the economic force that provides the benefit to most people, but in reality it’s not always the case. The military budget should be kept high for the nation’s sake. The idea of lower spending will result in lower taxes. Life should be reflected by traditional religious and patriotic values. 

Liberals believe in the great role the government can bring to life in the US. Such as giving out handouts in welfare programs. As well as in the economic sector by regulations and high taxes on the elite. Equality is the main cause that the government should be involved in. Meanwhile liberty is the main cause that the government should not be involved in as much. An example is liberals demanding financial aid as welfare aid, meanwhile conservatives think that people should be responsible and strong to depend on themselves without the help of the government. 

3. I understand althusser’s definition of ideology as a way of conditioning the mind. Both as an imaginary state of being conditioned by societal expectations. And operating based on what happens in the real world. You have the free will to follow along or not. This is the way of people going on what is needed to live whether it be unconsciously or consciously as it is in demand to be part of society. People must be checked upon as there is a role for everybody to play in to keep society how it seems fit. For example, going to school 5 times a week for 8 hours is the ideal schedule to learn the basic subjects. This model promotes organization and productivity in a timely manner.