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Political Compass

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:49 pm
by AlgyTaylor
http://www.politicalcompass.org

Where do you end up?

Me:
Economic Left/Right: -6.38 ['normal' left wing]
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -8.82 [extreme libertarian]

Make Gandi look like Maggie Thatcher ;)

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:04 pm
by Jesse, Bad Boy
Economic Left/Right: 8.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -7.74

However, I don't like Political Compass, as it is too vague, and sometimes says things that are ridiculous and misleading. For example:

"A significant advantage of a one-party state is that it avoids all the arguments that delay progress in a democratic political system."

While this is true, it does not ask for the test takers opinion. If I answer "No, it isn't", I would be ignoring the obvious in that a single party system cuts down all the arguments. On the other hand, if I answer "Yes, it is" it has become an endorsement of a one party state.

Another one:

"What is for the good of the transnational corporations is, ultimately, for the good of all."

This is a false dichotomy, not to mention a more in depth issue then it's presented as. For anarchists such as myself, corporations are viewed as tools of the state. However, the test does not distinguish between Corporations and transnational businesses, and if does, it does not relegate this important information to the test taker.

Again, another:

The businessperson and the manufacturer are more important than the writer and the artist.

This is a false dichotomy, because it insinuates that a writer or artist are not capable businesspeople. My stepmother is a writer, but she is a brilliant businessperson.

In short, Political Compass is too narrow, and for the most part, shit.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:20 pm
by Kahless
Economic Left/Right: -6.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -7.49

Not surprising, but I thought I'd have been more to the left than the libertarian aspect, I seem to be as left wing as Gandhi but less authoritarian :shock:

(Algy, you should get Mr Commons to take this test, but I can guess where he'd end up ;), you're a bit more libertarian than me, I guess that's the sheep thing :lol: )

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:22 pm
by AlgyTaylor
Jesse, Bad Boy wrote:"A significant advantage of a one-party state is that it avoids all the arguments that delay progress in a democratic political system."

It's basically a choice. You can either have democracy - which is a long, drawn out process ... OR you can have a single party state/dictator - which is potentially more flexible than democracy, but will be the opinion of the ruler rather than of the people.

There aren't any other options, really. It's basically asking if you agree with democracy or not - given that it's a far longer process than an autocracy.

The arguments are what makes a democracy a democracy! Personally I see a lack of arguments when debating (as the Conservative party have been doing recently in the UK :x) as a MAJOR disadvantage, because you can't find all of the faults in a policy if everyone goes along with it first time.


The businessperson and the manufacturer are more important than the writer and the artist.

This is a false dichotomy, because it insinuates that a writer or artist are not capable businesspeople. My stepmother is a writer, but she is a brilliant businessperson.

I think you've missed the point. It's a choice between function and form - ie is a machine more important than a work of art? Which is more important, doing or creating?



I think that a lot of the questions are very, very clever.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:23 pm
by Kahless
AlgyTaylor wrote: Personally I see a lack of arguments when debating (as the Conservative party have been doing recently in the UK :x)


Which one, Blairs or Camerons? :wink:

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:25 pm
by Kahless
Hitler just right of centre? What about his views on race and nationality? :?

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:26 pm
by AlgyTaylor
Kahless wrote:(Algy, you should get Mr Commons to take this test, but I can guess where he'd end up ;))

:lol: 8)

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:28 pm
by AlgyTaylor
Kahless wrote:
AlgyTaylor wrote: Personally I see a lack of arguments when debating (as the Conservative party have been doing recently in the UK :x)


Which one, Blairs or Camerons? :wink:

:lol: Cameron is to Blair what Pepsi is to Coke. One can's red, one can's blue but they're practically the same thing.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:30 pm
by Kahless
The only good thing about Blair is that he f*cks with the tories minds, do they vote with their traditional values or to oppose the government :lol:

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:42 pm
by unriggable
Something like 4.5 bottom left on both sides. Pretty much in the middle of the bottom left corner.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:43 pm
by Phobia
Your political compass
Economic Left/Right: 1.63
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 1.33


wow, i never realised this before but im not strong in any direction! :lol:

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:45 pm
by Kahless
Middle of the road, phobia, watch out for oncoming traffic :)

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:46 pm
by unriggable
I never really have respect for any contraption that takes all your views and smashes them into a graph.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:48 pm
by dcowboys055
aren't there like 10 of these threads

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:50 pm
by Kahless
AlgyTaylor wrote:
Kahless wrote:
AlgyTaylor wrote: Personally I see a lack of arguments when debating (as the Conservative party have been doing recently in the UK :x)


Which one, Blairs or Camerons? :wink:

:lol: Cameron is to Blair what Pepsi is to Coke. One can's red, one can's blue but they're practically the same thing.


Except unlike Pepsi and Coke, they both get you pissed

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:32 pm
by btownmeggy
A lot of the statements are really stupid. Like this one, "There is now a worrying fusion of information and entertainment." What does my response say about my politics??

"Abstract art that doesn't represent anything shouldn't be considered art at all" is even stupider, though maybe more telling.

Anyway, I'm:
Economic Left/Right: -5.63
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.46

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:34 pm
by Kahless
btownmeggy wrote:A lot of the statements are really stupid. Like this one, "There is now a worrying fusion of information and entertainment." What does my response say about my politics??


I think it's a comment about journalism and how things are reported. How much of what we hear through the media is truth and how much is sensationalism

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:39 pm
by btownmeggy
Kahless wrote:
btownmeggy wrote:A lot of the statements are really stupid. Like this one, "There is now a worrying fusion of information and entertainment." What does my response say about my politics??


I think it's a comment about journalism and how things are reported. How much of what we hear through the media is truth and how much is sensationalism


What about Sesame Street? It's a fusion of information and entertainment. It doesn't worry me.

Though, I recognize your interpretation as correct.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:21 pm
by everywhere116
Economic Left/Right: 6.13
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 1.69

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:23 pm
by Kahless
you seem quite right wing for a trekkie everywhere116, Roddenberry had a lot of left wing ideals and got attacked for them

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:25 pm
by everywhere116
I have a natural filter in my mind.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:39 pm
by ilevot
here's mine:

Economic Left/Right: -1.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 4.15

whatever that's all supposed to mean.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:47 pm
by unriggable
You're a very unexaggerated version of stalin.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:58 am
by jay_a2j
I'm a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. Don't need to take a political test. :wink:

PostPosted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:55 am
by boberz
i have take this this many times the two most recent came out like this:

The first i answered purely idealistically and thologically putting what i would love to be true and what i would do if i thought it might work. I was a moderate communist (yes all the way).

The second most recent time i answered the questions as if i was to become politician tomorrow (without the spin/sleeze and i did tell the truth) and i was a socialist. The americans are going to rip me apart, but seing the homelesness in that country i dont care.