Political Spectrum

[Captain Sensible]

I see Right is an option, where is "wrong"?

[lucid]

Left.
A little more centre-right on some issues however.

An Econ prof of mine once explained the political spectrum something like this:
University/college students lean to the left, with their little naive notions of equality. Students are poor, they don't want to pay tuition--Heck, they want others to pay for them.
As people get older and are exposed to the real world, they lean more the the right. They become dirty, greedy capitalist *expletive*s.

(It was an interesting class: a very right-leaning prof debating with a classroom full of more centre/left- oriented individuals).

By his assessment, I'm right on track

[FlamesAllTheWay]

As one Winston Churchill once said,

"Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains."

Anyways, I voted center...

[TheCommodoreAfro]

Over 30, but still on the left in terms of policy and worldview. In terms of economics and money related things in politics I sit more in the middle. I guess for me I would rather my government balanced the budget, and put a greater empahsis on arts and education. Another illustration is that I have three magazine subscriptions coming to my door here - The Economist, Harper's and Cinemascope (movies I will never see here in Japan) which illustrates these leanings pretty accurately, come to think of it.

In my uni days, even though I eventually got my degree in business, I would have answered far left to the above poll.

In high school I would have said center/right.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally posted by TheCommodoreAfro@Jul 30 2004, 11:09 PM
Over 30, but still on the left in terms of policy and worldview. In terms of economics and money related things in politics I sit more in the middle. I guess for me I would rather my government balanced the budget, and put a greater empahsis on arts and education. Another illustration is that I have three magazine subscriptions coming to my door here - The Economist, Harper's and Cinemascope (movies I will never see here in Japan) which illustrates these leanings pretty accurately, come to think of it.

In my uni days, even though I eventually got my degree in business, I would have answered far left to the above poll.

In high school I would have said center/right.

Off topic... but this guy has a hilarious nickname... what was your old one?

[TheCommodoreAfro]

Originally posted by SuperNilson+Jul 31 2004, 02:32 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (SuperNilson @ Jul 31 2004, 02:32 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-TheCommodoreAfro@Jul 30 2004, 11:09 PM
Over 30, but still on the left in terms of policy and worldview. In terms of economics and money related things in politics I sit more in the middle. I guess for me I would rather my government balanced the budget, and put a greater empahsis on arts and education. Another illustration is that I have three magazine subscriptions coming to my door here - The Economist, Harper's and Cinemascope (movies I will never see here in Japan) which illustrates these leanings pretty accurately, come to think of it.

In my uni days, even though I eventually got my degree in business, I would have answered far left to the above poll.

In high school I would have said center/right.

Off topic... but this guy has a hilarious nickname... what was your old one? [/b][/quote]
Feff.

Been waiting for the switchover to make the request. Saw your name change and Scottie worked his magic! :P

[transplant99]

Originally posted by Captain Sensible@Jul 30 2004, 06:36 PM
I see Right is an option, where is "wrong"?

It's there.....its called far left!!



Sorry I couldnt resist.

[Displaced Flames fan]

NICE signature DoreFro.

[Captain Sensible]

Originally posted by transplant99+Jul 31 2004, 12:04 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (transplant99 @ Jul 31 2004, 12:04 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Captain Sensible@Jul 30 2004, 06:36 PM
I see Right is an option, where is "wrong"?

It's there.....its called far left!!



Sorry I couldnt resist. [/b][/quote]
Oh boy, I set it up and you knocked it clear out of the park.

[TheCommodoreAfro]

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan@Jul 31 2004, 09:56 PM
NICE signature DoreFro.

Since we didn't win the cup, my fave Flames moment of the past 14.9 years.

Thanks!

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally posted by Cowperson@Jul 30 2004, 04:09 PM
The "political leaning analysis poll" that periodically shows up here has me as a "Libertarian Party" guy.

Really?


Far right for me. Extreme far right. Off the charts actaully. Libertarian they call it.

[snowdude]

I am one of those university student posters and sit about left in Canada. If i were measured by the US scale i'd be considered a pinko commie me thinks

[Cowperson]

Originally posted by Flame Of Liberty+Jul 31 2004, 03:31 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Flame Of Liberty @ Jul 31 2004, 03:31 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cowperson@Jul 30 2004, 04:09 PM
The "political leaning analysis poll" that periodically shows up here has me as a "Libertarian Party" guy.

Really?


Far right for me. Extreme far right. Off the charts actaully. Libertarian they call it. [/b][/quote]
Yep. Taken it twice now. Same result.

Here's the link if someone wants to take the test.

http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalc...naire.pl?page=1

Here's a different quiz than the one we've had before. Still named me a Libertarian.

http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

Cowperson

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally posted by Flame Of Liberty@Jul 31 2004, 09:31 AM
Far right for me. Extreme far right. Off the charts actaully. Libertarian they call it.

Libertarian? I thought the offical name was Pure Concentrated Evil? :P

Just took the second test that Cow posted. I was right on the dot between left and centurist. Wasn't suprised at all. I voted left in this poll however.

[Claeren]

I voted left, but that is only by Alberta standards. By Canadian standards i am probably center. I also find that my ideal state is more left leaning but i realize the practical realities of open markets and so on....

I did the test and my dot is exactly where the Dali Lama's is, i don't think that can be a bad thing..... lol

Claeren.

[FlamesAddiction]

Yeah, I'm sure the Dalai Lama did that test. :P

[300spartans]

The Dalai Lama is the long lost libertarian brother I never had.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally posted by Cowperson+Aug 1 2004, 03:03 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Cowperson @ Aug 1 2004, 03:03 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Really?


Far right for me. Extreme far right. Off the charts actaully. Libertarian they call it.

Yep. Taken it twice now. Same result.

Here's the link if someone wants to take the test.

http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalc...naire.pl?page=1

Here's a different quiz than the one we've had before. Still named me a Libertarian.

http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

Cowperson [/b][/quote]
That`s excellent, more power to you!

Here`s a good test to see where you stand on economic issues (Austrian school ie libertarian, keynesian, chicago school or pure left evil), it is a lot more complicated that the second test:

http://www.mises.org/quiz.asp?QuizID=4

and here`s another, more broad and simple to see how libertarian you are:

http://www.bcaplan.com/cgi/purity.cgi

The second one is pretty straighforward, but it could be an eye opener for people who think are right wing because of common misinterpretation of what right wing means (ie do you think anti trust laws should be abolished? do you think monetary base should be frozen? and best of all - is government inherently evil or necessary evil?).

Happy testing.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally posted by MrMastodonFarm+Aug 1 2004, 03:15 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MrMastodonFarm @ Aug 1 2004, 03:15 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Flame Of Liberty@Jul 31 2004, 09:31 AM
Far right for me. Extreme far right. Off the charts actaully. Libertarian they call it.

Libertarian? I thought the offical name was Pure Concentrated Evil? :P

Just took the second test that Cow posted. I was right on the dot between left and centurist. Wasn't suprised at all. I voted left in this poll however. [/b][/quote]
Haha yep that`s what they call it. Pretty much everybody I talk to about politics or economics thinks I`m nuts, at least in the beginning. I try to post a lot about these topics on this board too, eventhough I know the acceptance of such ideas isn`t very high. However, even if my radical rants only persuade 5 people to do some further research into it, its well worth it IMO.

As for the advocates web page, they are guiltyof the very misconception about libertarianism I was talking about. They say that:

"Libertarians support a great deal of liberty and freedom of choice in both personal and economic matters. They believe government's only purpose is to protect people from coercion and violence. They value individual responsibility, and they tolerate economic and social diversity."

Libertarians do not believe government`s only purpose is to protect people from coercion and violence because the government is nothing else but coercion and violence. Governments can work only when they can use coercion and violence, ie tax, regulate, `distribute income` etc. For libertarians there`s no such thing as a free state. Other right wing ideologies can accept some form of state/government, libertarians cannot. That`s the basic differences between these two - libertarian creed does not compromise when it comes to liberty and principles.

So, in short, if someone thinks there`s a small role of the governemnt (no matter how small) that`s fine (and certainly better than supporting big government) but he`s not libertarian.

Another misconception is that libertarians (sometimes called anarchocapitalists or ancap) are anarchists fighting against globalization, McDonalds and multinational companies, whereas these two groups are on the opposite polar ends of the political spectrum. What I am saying libertarians are not those guys throwing rocks and molotow cocktails into KFC, which is what many people think when they hear the word anarchy.

Libertarians are against any form of violence or coercion (which means physical attack against someone or their property) unless they are threatened or attacked in the first place. That`s it in a nutshell.

[Cowperson]

Originally posted by Flame Of Liberty+Aug 1 2004, 09:07 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Flame Of Liberty @ Aug 1 2004, 09:07 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Yep. Taken it twice now. Same result.

Here's the link if someone wants to take the test.

http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalc...naire.pl?page=1

Here's a different quiz than the one we've had before. Still named me a Libertarian.

http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

Cowperson

That`s excellent, more power to you!

Here`s a good test to see where you stand on economic issues (Austrian school ie libertarian, keynesian, chicago school or pure left evil), it is a lot more complicated that the second test:

http://www.mises.org/quiz.asp?QuizID=4

and here`s another, more broad and simple to see how libertarian you are:

http://www.bcaplan.com/cgi/purity.cgi

The second one is pretty straighforward, but it could be an eye opener for people who think are right wing because of common misinterpretation of what right wing means (ie do you think anti trust laws should be abolished? do you think monetary base should be frozen? and best of all - is government inherently evil or necessary evil?).

Happy testing. [/b][/quote]
Hey, I said tests had declared me Libertarian, not that I had done so myself.

Your second test had me with seven points and concluded: "6-15 points: You are starting to have libertarian leanings. Explore them."

The test itself seemed to be a series of extreme statements with only yes or no answers. I'd love to know YOUR score!!!

The first test on Austrian economics . . . . . well, I started it but its Sunday morning and I ain't bothering to think that hard. Maybe later.

Cowperson