Brad Wardell's views about technology, politics, religion, world affairs, and all sorts of politically incorrect topics.
Well according to the survey...
Published on May 14, 2004 By Draginol In Politics

According to PoliticalCompass.org I'm slightly left of center with a slight Libertarian bent. This would probably come as a surprise to some of the extreme left-wingers on JoeUser.com who think anyone who isn't an outright socialist is a "right wing kook".

So what makes me slightly left-wing according to this test? Easy. Consistency in viewpoints. I don't trust monopolies. My dislike of big government is not founded by libertarian values. I'm not a libertarian. It comes from the belief that monopolies are less responsive to the needs of individuals than entities in a competitive environment. So to the statement "the freer the market, the freer the people" I strongly disagree because you create a completely free market and you'll ultimately end up with an authoritarian corporate government instead. 

Similarly, companies won't keep the environment clean because they operate in a way that is only good for their stock holders, a belief I also think is wrong -- companies have an innate responsibility to society as well in my opinion.  All the questions along that line move to the left.

On the other hand, I am notoriously unsympathetic towards the poor because I know from experience that most people who are poor are poor because of their own fault (in the United States that is, I'm not talking generally on a world wide scale). But I don't feel that religion and morality are tied together even though I believe that faith based institutions have much to contribute to our society. Ultimately, I'm a utilitarian but on a more macro-scale. I like faith based institutions because we can all use all the help we can get from as many different sources as possible. But I don't think that faith based institutions are any better the secular based ones. 

And socially, while I mildly oppose gay marriage, I believe that what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their own home is their business.  I also have little patience for those who think race or class should determine anything at all. I don't care what the color of your skin is but what's inside (yes, I mean that literally, I want to harvest your organs! Okay, maybe not).  But even though I don't think race is a road block to success, I do believe that some cultures are inherently better than others. After all, I don't have to claim to be objective.

Overall I think this test is interesting but far far too limited in scope.  Consider this:

According to this chart, I'm to the LEFT of John Kerry and Carol Mosley Braun. I somehow doubt that.

Take the test at: http://www.politicalcompass.org/

 


Comments (Page 2)
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on May 15, 2004
Does she not have the right to security because she pays not taxes?


She has a right to support herself, she doesn't have a right for others to support her.

Fee based services, that's the way to go.

VES
on May 15, 2004
Wow. Mine was a bit unusual, I am dead center between left and right and one notch down towards Libertarianism. I feel I am more to the right than to the left but my religion has influenced that (ie everyone no matter race, disability, sexual preference, etc. is entitled to the same rights) a bit.
on May 15, 2004
Interestingly, I wound up about where I would have expected: Slightly right of center (2.38) and a tad libertarian (-2.31)

Like others have stated, I felt some of the questions were a bit limiting in that they appeared to make certain assumptions I wouldn't normally make.

For instance "If economic globalisation is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather than the interests of trans-national corporations." is phrased as an either/or question. That's leaves no room for both/neither. A strongly disagree answer could be viewed either as anti-humanitarian or as a denial of the premise that both could not co-exist equally.

Interesting test, though.
on May 15, 2004
Your political compass
Economic Left/Right: -2.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.23

I'm down with Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama. 's alright by me.
on May 16, 2004




Two tests, fairly close results. A little differentiation on the economic policy scale, but they both seem to think that I would make a good Libertarian.

-- B
on May 19, 2004
Your political compass
Economic Left/Right: -6.62
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.82

I'm quite out there.
on May 20, 2004
Yes, I have to say that the phrasing of the questions tend to bend people left.

For instance, there was a question that went something like "Women can have careers, but their first responsiblity is as homemakers". That I had to disagree with, because of the sexual slant. I, and I think a great many people, would have leaned the other way had the question been "A parent can have a career, but their first responsiblity is as homemakers". There is nothing Conservative about chauvenism, not anymore, imho. I know as many liberal men biased about women as conservatives.

The question about abstract art, and others were skewing, I think.

I came out almost dead center at :

Economic Left/Right: 1.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 1.64

Me? Left of Tony Blair and Leiberman? Me... almost exactly on the same spot as Carol Mosely Braun? Insulting, actually. I seriously doubt it. You would have to be really, really far right to come out right on this one.
on May 20, 2004
Economic Left/Right: -3.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.92

I dont trust that test though...

BAM!!!
on May 20, 2004
Posted again due to the infamous red X....





VES
on May 20, 2004

Most people think that I am somewhat right wing, but I'm not (and never have viewed myself that way, either):

I wish that there was a "neutral" vote for some of the questions.  If few of them I really felt like I didn't have a strong opinion on.

on May 24, 2004

Yea, the only problem (okay the main problem) with the test is that all questions are weighted equally.

I have a strong distrust of large corporations, for example so that drives me to the left but on the other hand I feel much more strongly about the government mucking around in the private sector which is a right-wing position.

on Sep 20, 2006
I'm a freaking socialist.

Economic Left/Right: -6.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -4.26


BTW, I like the spamming you're getting lately, Brad. Very . . . compelling . . . reading.
on Sep 20, 2006
Thanks for the link and the quiz. I'll spend some time becoming acquainted here with "who in fact I am" and get back to ya.

Being akin to the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and M. Ghandi feels o.k...
Wow, this is weird...I'm not so sure I'm who I thought I was. Er...never mind. Later.  
on Sep 24, 2006
Your political compass
Economic Left/Right: -2.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.79


..which puts me damn-ass close to the Dalai Lama and Ghandi.

Not bad, but somewhat surprising.

Me? Left of Tony Blair and Leiberman? Me... almost exactly on the same spot as Carol Mosely Braun? - Bakerstreet

*Deference stifles soft chuckle*
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