the political compass

Yanlee · Post by **Yanlee** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 5:20 pm

I recently came across a website that uses a new method to determine one's political beliefs. It uses the traditional left/right distinction, but also uses a libertarian/authoritarian distinction to give a more accurate explanation of political beliefs.

What is particularly interesting is where various political figures lie on the political compass.

I noticed that there has been a bit of political debate recently on SYM, so it would be interesting to hear what you all think. [url="http://www.politicalcompass.org"]http://www.politicalcompass.org[/url]

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:15 pm

It says I'm a leftist libertarian... which I think is probably about right, looking at the politicians in the same area

Azeroth · Post by **Azeroth** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:17 pm

On the graph I was at -4.00 and -2.97. I thought that test was pretty interesting, it asks quite a variety of questions. Anyway I hope the rest of you guys and gals out there take it, you might hurt Yanlee's feelings if you don't.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:37 pm

I was also libertarian left, only -2.38 on the economic left/right scale, but -6.62 on the authoritarian/liberatarian scale

Am I an anarchist

Simon Hughes was the UK politician closest to me, who is this?

Yanlee · Post by **Yanlee** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:44 pm

@Azeroth- don't worry, I won't take it personally if noone does the test

@CE- sorry I don't know who Simon Hughes is. I don't keep up with the English political scene.

I was pretty far left and libertarian, which was of no surprise.

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:47 pm

I went and looked at the test, but some of the questions were confusing...I hate multiple choice tests! Like for instance the first question said:

If globalisation is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather that the interests of trans-national corporations.

And then you're supposed to put if you agree or disagree with the statement. Now I sort of disagree with the phrasing of the question, because it makes it sound like "trans-national corporations" have an interest, but I believe that any corporation's interests is the same as the interests of the people that own the corporation. I don't really think that 'trans national corporations' have interests of their own. So do I say "I disagree"?

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:50 pm

I forget what my exact numbers were, something like -3 on the economic scale and -5 on the authoritarian scale

Sorry CE, I don't know who Simon Hughes is either

THE JAKER · Post by **THE JAKER** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:53 pm

Anyway, I took the test and it said I'm Chaotic Neutral?!?!? And the manual says that this alignment is really hard to roleplay, so I'm scrued.

Yanlee · Post by **Yanlee** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:53 pm

I agree there can be problems answering some of the questions. There were 3 or 4 I could have answered yes or no to.
However, a few ambiguous questions should be compensated for by the large number of questions and build up an overall picture of your political beliefs.

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:54 pm

LOL, I came off as -7.5 economic, and -6.62 liberatarian. Just call me Fidel! Viva le Revolucion!

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 6:55 pm

Originally posted by fable:
LOL, I came off as -7.5 economic, and -6.62 liberatarian. Just call me Fidel! Viva le Revolucion!

I am hijacking this topic, and taking it to Havana at once!

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 7:00 pm

Good evening, Fidel

Care to teach me some real Cuban salsa

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 7:01 pm

Originally posted by fable:
I am hijacking this topic, and taking it to Havana at once!

Cool, I could use a holiday

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 7:11 pm

Gods, I just looked at the UK comparative chart, and realized I was more liberal than Tony Benn! I think I'd better join a monastery, instead.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 7:18 pm

LOL@Fable

Maybe you could join a Cuban monastery?

[ 08-30-2001: Message edited by: Georgi ]

Word · Post by **Word** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 8:10 pm

I scored -4.63 in economics and -3.65

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 8:23 pm

Originally posted by Georgi:
LOL@Fable

Maybe you could join a Cuban monastery?

Just call me Padre Fable.

Quark · Post by **Quark** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 9:14 pm

This test is hardly new, it's just uncommon to see.

I took one 4 years ago, and three different ones since then. Everytime I come out as libertarian.

Sadly, half the people who are classified as Republican or Democrat are only registered as such because they have no idea what an Authoritarian or Libertarian is.

Oh, and anarchy is not nearly what the common conception of it is. Quite simply everyone just minds their own business unless they want to help somebody. That's what anarchy is supposed to be like.

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Aug 30, 2001 11:52 pm

Originally posted by Quark:
This test is hardly new, it's just uncommon to see.

I took one 4 years ago, and three different ones since then. Everytime I come out as libertarian.

The funny thing is, although the test shows me to be very much a libertarian, I hold almost no views in common with libertarians.

Sadly, half the people who are classified as Republican or Democrat are only registered as such because they have no idea what an Authoritarian or Libertarian is.

Well, that, and the fact that if they voted for any other parties, their vote wouldn't matter. People, being people, would rather vote for someone they dislike who will win, instead of voting for someone they strongly like who will lose. It's an interesting principle to build a modern government on.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 5:43 am

Originally posted by fable:
Well, that, and the fact that if they voted for any other parties, their vote wouldn't matter. People, being people, would rather vote for someone they dislike who will win, instead of voting for someone they strongly like who will lose. It's an interesting principle to build a modern government on.

Hey, I voted Liberal Democrat...

The trouble here is people don't like either of the main parties so they don't bother voting at all... if all the people who didn't vote, voted for another party, their votes wouldn't be wasted.