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Edited on Fri Dec-10-04 07:35 PM by ZombieNixon
Below is the first incarnation of my comprehensive political orientation test.
More than a simple left/right linear graph and better than a 2-Dimensional political compass, ZombieNixon's PoliticalOrientation-O-Gram (development test version 1.0d) assesses your personal liberalism or conservatism in perceptive 3-Dimensional textual wonder. Whether you're a foaming bible-thumping neocon or a bleeding heart liberal eco-fascist, The ZNPOOG will insult your deepest held ideology by placing you in a simplistically named category that grossly overgeneralizes your views, but not before determining your exact place in the figurative political sphere!
NOTES: Basically, what I realized is that even though politics is so complex to accurately quantify, most issues can be classified as either economic/regulatory, foreign policy, or cultural. Using the X-Axis as economic, the Y-Axis as foreign policy and the Z-Axis as cutural, I can assess some otherwise pretty complex people. I based the questions off of those from politicalcompass.org and the CSMonitor's "Choose the Candidates" selector.
Things I need help on: On the Y-Axis, foreign policy, you may notice that on some questions, the "far right" answer may be similar to the "far left" answer, but for different reasons. This is illustrated by the fact that Michael Badnarik opposes the Iraq War just as much as David Cobb. For that reason, you could draw the "foreign policy" axis as a circle, but then I ceases to be an "axis" and the space in which final answers may be plotted becomes some freaky 4-Dimensional hyper-torus (with 2 perpendicular axes and 2D circle perpendicular to both axes simultaneously). Because of our limitations to three dimensions, this doesn't work. Thoughts?
Anyway, here's how it stands now...
<drum roll>
Instructions: For each question, choose the answer that best represents your view. For each "0" answer, give yourself 0 pts, for each "33" answer, give yourself 33 pts, and so on. After you complete each section, add up your total score and divide it by 8. That is your score for that section.
X-AXIS: ECONOMIC POLICY & REGULATORY ISSUES
1. Tax rates are...
0. unfair. A disproportionate tax burden in on the most productive members of society.
33. about right, but taxes are generally too high.
67. about right, but the Bush tax cut favored the rich.
100. unfair. The wealthy exploit loopholes while the poor pay more then their fair share.
2. CEO salaries are...
0. precisely what the market can bear.
33. probably too high. They should be tied to stock performance.
67. unfairly high. Company boards should rein in greedy executives.
100. criminally high. The government should cut corporate tax benefits for companies
with exorbitant executive salaries.
3. The minimum wage...
0. is bad economics. Let the free market set the minimum wage.
33. is about right. Any increase would threaten small businesses.
67. is too low. Congress should increase it by a few dollars.
100. is a cruel joke. It’s time for a living wage that keeps workers above the poverty line.
4. Healthcare...
0. is too important to be left to government. Privitazation will improve healthcare.
33. is in need of reform. The federal government must lower costs without limiting
choice.
67. is something that too few Americans have. We must make affordable healthcare more
accessible.
100. is a right. The US should adopt a government-funded single-payer system.
5. When the US formulates international trade policies, what should be its highest priority.
0. The integrity of free trade.
33. US economic growth.
67. Job security for the American worker.
100. Promoting minimul labor and environmental standards worldwide.
6. What is the best way to grow the US economy?
0. The government does not grow the economy; capitalists do.
33. Lower taxes, deregulate, empower the entrepreneurial class
67. Reduce the deficit, balance budgets, empower the working class.
100. Cut the defense budget in half, provide universal health care, promote a living wage.
7. What is your view on gun control?
0. Read the Second Amendment. Any questions?
33. More legislation won't necessarily improve gun safety or reduce crime.
67. The government must strengthen its gun-control laws.
100. Handguns and assault weapons should be outlawed.
8. Most government regulatory agencies ...
0. are unconstitutional and need to be closed.
33. need reform. Many are too bloated and bureaucratic.
67. are not strong enough.
100. protect democracy.
Y-AXIS: FOREIGN POLICY
1. How should the US secure peace between Israelis and Palestinians?
0. Let the people of the Middle East set their own course. US intervention makes
matters worse.
33. Until Palestinians halt terror attacks, the US should support Israel's defensive actions.
67. The US must be an "honest broker" again by working more consistently with
moderates.
100. The US must cut some aid to Israel and stand up to Israeli abuses of international
law.
2. US immigration priorities should be...
0. speeding the process for qualified immigrants, and tightening border enforcement.
33. granting undocumented workers temporary legal status, but not amnesty.
66. offering undocumented immigrants better access to social programs and amnesty.
100. lower requirements for immigrants coming to the country.
3. What is your feeling about the United Nations?
0. The US must never surrender its sovereignty. It must leave the UN now.
33. It is a bloated bureaucracy that is often incompetent or unwilling to get the job done.
67. It's not perfect, but is a vital institution in world affairs.
100. It is still the world's best hope for peace.
4. How should the US deal with North Korea's nuclear threat?
0. Why does the US have to deal with it? Let regional nations contain the danger.
33. The US must not be blackmailed with WMD. It should be ready to launch a
preemptive strike.
67. It must work with regional powers, using its diplomatic strength to remove this
threat.
100. It should offer N. Korea more incentives, and fewer threats, to dismantle its nuclear
program.
5. The war against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq was ...
0. another example of the human and financial costs of unnecessary foreign intervention.
33. a noble enterprise. The US cannot sit idly by as threats to its national security gather.
67. based on a false case. It has been a diplomatic disaster, and a quagmire for US forces.
100. immoral, illegal, and unjustified.
6. How should the US approach alliances with foreign powers?
0. Americans must heed President George Washington's warning against "entangling
alliances."
33. The US should never need permission from the UN or allies unwilling to face evil
threats.
67. The US must act in its interests, but strong alliances are key to achieving them.
100. The US must respect international law and stop acting unilaterally.
7. How can the US win the war on terrorism?
0. By not interfering in other nations' business.
33. It must act preemptively, alone if need be, to wipe out terror networks and
governments that support them.
67. It must lead a truly global effort to root out terror networks.
100. US leaders must revise arrogant foreign policies that breed anti-American hatred.
8. The US should support authoritarian regimes...
0. never. We should keep to ourselves.
33. if it helps further our foreign policy goals.
67. as little as possible. Only when it is absolutely unavoidable.
100. never. They will ultimately stab us in the back.
Z-AXIS: CULTURAL ISSUES
1. Abortion should be...
0. outlawed. Period.
33. prohibited in most cases.
67. safe, legal, and rare.
100. every woman's right.
2. Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?
0. No. There needs to be a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
33. Civil unions are OK, but marriage should be restricted to unions between a man and a
woman.
67. States should decide for themselves whether same-sex marriages are legal.
100. Yes. They should enjoy all the legal benefits of marriage – just like everyone else.
3. During a war you don't agree with, the highest form of patriotism is ...
0. loyalty to country. Voicing opposition only aids the enemy.
33. respect. It's OK to privately disagree, but Americans should root for the home team.
67. dissent. It's important to voice opposition to reckless foreign policies.
100. protest. It's wrong not to act while soldiers die unnecessarily
.
4. Should the USA Patriot Act – which restricts some civil liberties in order to crack down on terrorists – be renewed?
0. Yes. It's definitely needed to prevent another 9/11.
33. Only after a thorough review and the removal of key objectionable portions.
67. It served its purpose on the heels of 9/11, but is no longer justified.
100. Absolutely not. The US should not wage war on the Bill of Rights to win battles
abroad.
5. What role should prayer play in public schools?
0. Schools should have time set aside for silent prayer.
33. Local school districts should decide whether prayer should be a part of their day.
67. Students should be allowed to pray as long as teachers are not involved.
100. None. It's discriminatory to publicly practice religion at a taxpayer-funded school.
6. What is your view of global warming?
0. It is phony science, driven by radical environmentalists.
33. It is a real issue, but the threat is exaggerated.
67. It is a serious problem. The US should join other nations in ratifying the Kyoto
treaty.
100. It is one of the most serious threats facing humankind.
7. Stem-cell research...
0. is a form of abortion and is akin to murder.
33. has potential, but it is greatly exaggerated..
67. has great potential and must receive funding.
100. can cure many serious diseases and needs to be funded and explored in much greater
depth.
8. What role should religion have in US government?
0. Our country stay true to its Judeo-Christian roots and God’s law.
33. America must acknowledge the Founding Fathers’ faith.
67. While acknowledging our roots in religion, America must never seek to impose one
faith over any others.
100. None. Doing otherwise is a violation of the separation of church and state.
INSULTINGLY NAMED CATEGORIES
{0-50, 0-50, 0-50}: Foaming bible-thumping neoconservative
{50-100, 0-50, 0-50}: Hawkish, fundamentalist welfare queen
{0-50, 50-100, 0-50}: Hypocritical interventionist control freak
{0-50, 0-50, 50-100}: Self-centered, isolationist libertarian
{50-100, 50-100, 0-50}: Evangelical humanitarian missionary
{0-50, 50-100, 50-100}: Confused liberal CEO
{50-100, 0-50, 50-100}: Attention-craving so-called “security mom”
{50-100, 50-100, 50-100}: Bleeding-heart liberal eco-fascist
{25-75, 25-75, 25-75}: Eager-to-please populist
***
ZombieNixon's final score:
(58.5, 67.0, 71.1)
Economic: Moderate to liberal (leans moderate)
Foreign policy: Moderate to liberal
Cultural: Moderate to liberal (leans liberal)
***
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