Topic: Political Compass
started by: jimhanson
Posted by jimhanson on May 16 2004,3:21 pm
Here's a quick test to determine if you are left/right, authoritarian/libertarian. It doesn't take long, and the answers may surprise you. Many of the questions don't seem to have a "right" choice, but make a choice anyway. Afterwards, compare your answers with the primary candidates in this year's election. < http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/index.html >
Posted by jimhanson on May 16 2004,4:00 pm
For further comparison, here are the Presidential candidates from the recent primaries. < http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/usprimaries.html >
Posted by Liberal on May 16 2004,5:06 pm
Here's my results.Economic Left/Right: -4.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.74
< http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politic....Y=-3.74 >
Posted by Spidey on May 16 2004,5:32 pm
< My Results >You can't copy the graph and save it as a JPG ... you have to post the link. Not sure why.
This was rather interesting ... not sure how accurately I answered the questions though. Some of the questions depended on this or that .. but for the most part it went well.
Posted by jimhanson on May 16 2004,6:52 pm
If you want to share where you ranked, copy the address from your graph and post it as a link. Kind of an interesting series of questions--some "no right answers". Also interesting comparing the Presidential candidates--according to this site, Bush is further right than me--I'm about as far right as Edwards, and fairly close to the line between authoritarian and libertarian. I would have thought I'd be further right, and more libertarian.
Also interesting--take the time to look through the explanations, for example, the difference between neo-liberals and liberals (same with conservatives). In this explanation, Neo-conservatives are more authoritarian than they are conservative, looking for more government control and spending (usually the domain of the Liberals). In the example of British politics, the liberals and conservatives have completed swapping sides--a movement that is starting to manifest itself in the U.S.--for example, conservatives now ADVOCATE deficit spending, and liberals are against it--a reversal from 30 years ago. Conservatives are in FAVOR of foreign involvement, and liberals are AGAINST it--a reversal of their traditional roles. Perhaps that is a reason that elections of late have become so evenly divided and bitter--the Electorate is confused--for good reason!
Posted by jimhanson on May 16 2004,7:13 pm
Here is a rendition of my graph for comparison with Liberals. I had to ask him how to do it (I HATE to do that!) 
, and the process was more than I am capable of doing on the computer, so he did it for me. In return, I have to listen to 15 minutes of Al Franken on "Err America". Seriously, it does help me understand why I have so many Liberal friends--most of us have Libertarian leanings--perhaps more descriptive today than the traditional Conservative/Liberal labels.
Posted by Spidey on May 16 2004,7:13 pm
How were you able to save that pic? I tried but all it would do is save a cross ... must be doing something wrong. Never mind ... I figured it out
Posted by Liberal on May 16 2004,7:32 pm
If people want to post the link to their graph I can combine them all into this one image. It might be interesting to see where the majority of red dots are.
Posted by irisheyes on May 16 2004,8:41 pm
Here's a link to mine. I wasn't expecting these results, so far I'm the most moderate person here. Looks like I might have to say good-bye to my Rush Limbaugh signature line. < Link to my results >
Posted by ICU812 on May 16 2004,10:29 pm
News to me< Graph >
Posted by Newbie on May 16 2004,10:30 pm
Here's mine. Interesting questions. I wish they gave an don't know or undecided to choose from a few times. That was neat. Thanks JimEconomic Left/Right: -5.62
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -4.10
< My Results >
Posted by adamwpuyear on May 17 2004,10:45 am
Compare to Jim Hanson's results. It is good to know that I am on the "right" track.< Adam's Results >
Posted by MADDOG on May 17 2004,12:34 pm
How embarassing, I'm a liberal < whoops >
Posted by jimhanson on May 17 2004,12:51 pm
| Quote |
| How embarassing, I'm a liberal whoops |
I see you are slightly authoritarian. As mentioned earlier--this is an important change in the political landscape. In the 60s through the 80s, liberals were VERY anti-authoritarian, but neo-liberals have embraced more government control. The parties are reversing their traditional roles.
It is interesting--in viewing Liberal's combined graph, that participants on this Forum are evenly divided on liberal/conservative, but there is a BIG bias towards Libertarian thinking amongst this group.
Posted by adamwpuyear on May 17 2004,2:03 pm
| Quote (jimhanson @ May 17 2004,12:51:pm) |
| It is interesting--in viewing Liberal's combined graph, that participants on this Forum are evenly divided on liberal/conservative, but there is a BIG bias towards Libertarian thinking amongst this group. |
Does this mean that there is still hope?
Posted by jimhanson on May 17 2004,4:37 pm
Yes--every time I get discouraged by partisan bickering in Washington, I see movement towards a Libertarian position in the country--LESS government controls, LESS intrusion into our lives, dissatisfaction with concentration of power in the hands of a few. The TEST, however, is whether people have the guts to ACT on their feelings, to DEMAND that power be handed back to the people, and that government be held accountable.
People get the government they DEMAND--and consequently, the government they DESERVE.
Posted by truckwriter94 on May 17 2004,5:52 pm
I don't think these questions are refined enough to be accurate.< http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politic....Y=-0.82 >
Posted by Ole1kanobe on May 17 2004,10:00 pm
I wasn't really sure what label to put on myself, I guess I know now < my link >
Posted by GEOKARJO on May 18 2004,3:14 pm
Yes I tested middle of the road as I have always claimed
Posted by jimhanson on May 18 2004,3:40 pm
Geo--how about throwing your chart link up there, so Liberal can include it in his composite graph? Interesting to see where most Forum members fall--either side of the political spectrum, but definitely on the Libertarian side vs. Authoritarian.Truckwriter94--reading the explanations and plaudits for the site, it wasn't developed by amateurs. I know what you mean, though--sometimes there are no "right" answers--and that is by design. They make you choose the "least wrong" answer--for example--the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Index makes you choose between "I am stupid" and "I am dishonest". It COULD be an attempt to see which trait--intelligence or honesty--that you value more--OR--I guess they want to see if you are honest enough to admit you're stupid!
Posted by jimhanson on May 22 2004,3:42 pm
Another (very short) political quiz.< http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html >
Posted by adamwpuyear on May 22 2004,4:07 pm
Here are my results. Wow.
Posted by MADDOG on May 22 2004,4:54 pm
Damn Jim, this isn't good. You guys shut up and quit laughing at me!
Posted by Newbie on May 22 2004,5:49 pm
Here's mine.Your Personal Self-Government Score is 70%.
Your Economic Self-Government Score is 50%.
Posted by Spidey on May 22 2004,5:58 pm
Your Personal Self-Government Score is 70%. Your Economic Self-Government Score is 60%.
Posted by jimhanson on May 22 2004,6:13 pm
Once again--readers of this Forum are left or right, but they definitely have Libertarian leanings, vs. Authoritarian.Maddog--I would read that as personal self government--high--but you want the government to have control of the economy.
Turn in your conservative credentials--"Here's your sign"!
(just a tweak!)
Posted by MADDOG on May 24 2004,10:04 am
Jim, I'm going to click my heels three time and say, I'm not a liberal, I'm not a liberal, I'm not a liberal.... Crap, I'm still here.
Posted by jimhanson on May 24 2004,12:30 pm
Maddog--Take a tip from Fountain Centers--"you don't have to live with the pain and shame of liberalism forever"--there is treatment for a disease like that.Start out with being the opposite of Al Franken, and his Stuart Smalley character. The first step in curing any mental illness is admitting your faults, so, like Smalley, say ("I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people will still LIKE me if I'm not a liberal" don't worry, liberals and Arabs won't like you ANYWAY). Step two--repeat constantly "The government is NOT my Mommy!" Step three--live for the present--say to yourself "JUST FOR TODAY--I'm not going to take what the government gives me!" Step four--you must renounce false prophets--say "Just because a Hollywood half-wit says it, it doesn't make it the truth". Step 5--you must believe in a higher being--the government is NOT God. Step 6--you must ACCEPT that you are a liberal--say "My name is Maddog, and I'm a recovering liberal". Step 7--you must help others to avoid the stigma of liberalism. Step 8--you must make a personal inventory of yourself--what CAUSED you sink into the depths of depravity? Step 9--make a list of all of those persons who caused you to inflict liberalism pain upon others--forgive them, avoid them. Step 10--make amends to those you have hurt with your liberal ways. Step 11--seek a higher power--read Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Neal Boortz, Jonah Goldberg. Step 12--believe that your Higher Power will restore you to sanity.
Don't retreat into the liberal closet--get out in the real world--kind of like sunshine cures Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Read two Ann Coulter books, then re-take the test. You'll recover. Let me know when you're feeling better.
Posted by GEOKARJO on May 24 2004,4:10 pm
Guess I am alone on this one
Posted by MADDOG on May 24 2004,4:29 pm
Jim, I took some of your advise, I read Ann Coulters article from last week. Took a different test < test > and look!
Posted by jimhanson on May 24 2004,5:10 pm
MADDOG--Good Dog! I knew you'd be feeling better once we "wormed" you! The problem with all of these political tests is: Who defines "center". To the John Birchers of the far-right, RUSH is "center". To an Alan Dershowitz, Pelosi is a Centrist.
The media--itself left of center, calls Liberal Republicans like Snow and McCain "moderates". The media NEVER refers to a politician as "hard-left". It is rare that they refer to a liberal as "moderate" (would that, by association, make anyone not "moderate" "immoderate"?).
Where did you get the test, Maddog?
The bad dream is over, Maddog--just click your heels together, and say "There's no place like home, there's no place like home".......
Posted by RET on May 24 2004,7:46 pm
20conservative%20political%20spectrum%3F%20%20(United%20States)/"><img src="http://images.quizilla.com/H/hazelwudi/1043656641_topliberal.GIF" border="0" alt="Liberal"><br> <font size="-1">Where do you fall on the liberal - conservative political spectrum? (United States)</font></a><BR> <font size="-3">brought to you by <a href="http://quizilla.com">Quizilla</a></font>Gee didn't know I was that liberal
Posted by RET on May 24 2004,7:47 pm
screwed that up
Posted by KarmaEL on May 25 2004,7:00 am
This is me, No surprizes here!4,215 users have taken the quiz so far. Results are renewed after each submission
Libertarian 27.35 %
Left-liberal 26.25 %
Centrist 29.73 %
Right-Conservative 7.25 %
Authoritarian 9.42 %
Posted by KarmaEL on May 25 2004,7:22 am
Economic Left/Right: -7.12Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.05
Posted by KarmaEL on May 25 2004,7:23 am
Whoops!
Posted by KarmaEL on May 25 2004,7:41 am
Posted by ICU812 on Sep. 22 2004,8:26 am
Oldie to bring back, kind of ties to current discussion in Old Folks thread
Posted by DrBombay on Sep. 22 2004,12:29 pm
ICU812Awsome Avatar!
Posted by DrBombay on Sep. 22 2004,12:31 pm
I took this awhile back, I don't remember the numbers. However I Knew I was liberal, but never dreamed I was farther left than Ghandi.
Posted by jimhanson on Sep. 22 2004,2:30 pm
I took the political compass chart for Mr. Kerry--based on statements of position he has made on the subject--of course, you could use some of his OTHER statements of position to come up with OTHER answers! (just kidding!)< http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politic....Y=-4.72 >
Just for fun--Anyone else like to try answering for either Mr. Kerry or Bush? Here's the link to the quiz again--surprising how many of the issues on the quiz are campaign issues:
< http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/index.html >