Which Political Ideology Best Describes You?

[TheJollyNihilist]

I am a Social Liberal / Economic Moderate / Isolationist

[BL611]

1. Actually I messed that up

I meant to say social moderate/economic liberal/internationalist, too many words...

[TheJollyNihilist]

3. At the very least...

nobody can accuse me of leaving anything out this time! :)

[HereSince1628]

2. The ideology that is tired of this series of polls after 25 in one week.

[TheJollyNihilist]

5. Sorry, but...

I could not include an 11th option.

[eleny]

8. That guy needed instructions for how to hide the thread

:rofl:

Btw, I voted Socialist. I'm fiscally conservative with our household funds. But I don't mind paying taxes so opportunities are created and all boats have a chance to rise together.

[wtmusic]

4. WHa...? No "economic conservative"?

I'm not sure where "pay as you go" falls anymore, but it seems a helluva a lot more conservative than the GOP position

[TheFarseer]

6. I don't think that has anything to do with it

Both "liberal" and "conservative" economically, assume balanced budgets. Liberal means larger government and higher taxes, conservative means smaller government and lower taxes.

[wtmusic]

7. Yet balanced budgets are non-existent

in so-called "conservative" administrations, whether government is smaller or not.

That's the problem with labels -- they tend to mean very different things to different people.

[Jed Dilligan]

9. Yeah--does socially liberal mean

you want more or less laws regulating behavior? Tricky, tricky....

[Odin2005]

11. I think a better way of decribing it is social authoritarian vs. social libertarian.

"social liberal" and social conservative" are fairly meaningless labels. A better dichotomy is social authoritarianism and social libertarianism. Social authoritarians are generally for laws regulating personal behavior while social libertarians are against such regulations. Anti-gun control and pro-gay marrige are both socially libertarian positions even though one is considered a "conservative" position and the other is considered a "liberal" position.

[Jed Dilligan]

13. Exactly--I am more consistently a social libertarian

than a social liberal.

[AX10]

19. Very true. Also, I am both "pro gun" and "pro gay rights".

[TheJollyNihilist]

14. Defining my terms...

Social Liberal:

Gay marriage
Abortion rights
Separation of Church and State
Stem cell research
Abolish death penalty


Social Conservative:

Traditional marriage
Anti-abortion
Intermixing of Church and State
Worship of embryonic stem cells
Death penalty proponents

[Jed Dilligan]

15. I'm for the death penalty

for cops, corporate officers, and elected officials who abuse power.

Otherwise, mark me down as a social liberal.

[AX10]

18. Interesting take.

.

[Jed Dilligan]

20. The point is deterrence

We execute the worst irrational criminals, so there's no deterrence. No one ever said, "Oooh, I'd better not rape and murder this child because I might get the DP!" But it might make embezzlers think twice.

[AX10]

21. Even though I oppose the death penalty, I find your take...

to be very interesting. Unusual, but interesting.

[TheJollyNihilist]

36. The fallibility of the system

Marks me against the death penalty.

[Jed Dilligan]

49. Yes--for murders.

However, when a politician takes bribes, a cop uses excessive force (like the BTKops at UCLA), or a CEO embezzles millions, there is usually no doubt as to guilt, but the punishment is so light that no one is deterred in the future. I'm for lifelong incarceration for the irrational people who commit murders, and painful, public death for the rational people who abuse their power.

[many a good man]

37. Don't confuse Fiscal conservative with Fiscal responsibility !!!

Traditionally, Ecomomic/Fiscal conservative means anti-social spending (Medicare/SS) and anti-Keynesian (no govt spending to pull out of recessions).

Calling fiscal responsibility "conservative" is a flat out lie. You make it sound like conservatives are the only ones who are responsible. We all know that's not true.

[Odin2005]

10. Social: Moderate, Economic: Socialist, Foreign Policy: Internationalist

[IsItJustMe]

12. Social Libritarian, if there is such a think. Internationally, it depends.

[alfredo]

16. Anarcho-Syndicalist

Actually I'm just a grumpy old man.

[AX10]

17. "Eclectic". Since that was not a choice, I chose the next best thing:

"Social Moderate / Economic Moderate / Internationalist"

An example for the reason I say that I am an eclectic:

I am anti-death penalty and anti-abortion. I generally oppose war and do not believe in killing but for the strict purpose of legitimate self-defense where there is an immediate and real threat to one's life.

[CatholicEdHead]

22. Social Liberal/Economic Moderate/Isolationist

[Pyrzqxgl]

23. I'm a Noneofyourdamnedbusinessist

[TheJollyNihilist]

24. I think that's the Constitution Party

nm

[baldguy]

25. Define your terms.

One person's "moderate" is another's "raving lunatic"

[primative1]

29. Terms Require Interpretation on BS meter ...

I had to choose "isolationist" because i know that is the term applied by the media to people who dont drool at the prospect of an endless stream of lopsided trade deals which yields an 800+ billion annual trade deficit.
I would prefer a term more like "sanity" rather than "isolationist" but thats just me.
Also, I will choose social moderate because I think what you do is your business and not mine.
That used to make me conservative because I dont need to see the weekly gay pride parade but now some think of me as liberal because I'm not big on internment camps.
Hmm ....

[Cascadian]

26. Democratic Socialist with Libertarian and Green leanings.

I consider my myself a Democratic Socialist in regards to health care, some major industries, economic, and labor issues. I am also Green when it comes to the environment and ecology matters. I am Libertarian on issues of civil rights, personal freedoms, marijuana, and vices. I also believe local communities should have more of their own in say on most issues. I guess I am a hybrid more than anything. But definately left-of-center.


John

[fuzzyball]

27. Social=Libertarian, Economic=free markets, Foreign Trade= Protect US

manufacturers so they have a level field to compete from.

Socially, I believe the government has no business restricting
any behavior except that which directly hurts others.

Economically speaking, goverment should help the really needy.
But other than that stay out of our lives, meaning lower taxes
and less regulations.

Health & medical: The costs are spiralling out of control.
DRASTIC MEASURES AND LAWS ARE REQUIRED BEFOR COUNTRY GOES BROKE.
No one should be able to make unregulated profits on the backs
of the sick and the old. If there is strict regulation on utility
charges why not medical charges & drugs?

[Generic Brad]

28. I did not see "Liberal Son of a Bitch" as an Option

Because that is where I lie.

[ClassWarrior]

30. I like that option myself.

Tho I hesitate to imply my sainted mother is a female cur.

NGU.

[Greyhound]

31. Societal Socialist/Economic Conservative (traditional sense)/Conditional Isolationist

Clear? :rofl:

[RealDems]

32. I'm a populist

Both economically and (little d) democratically.

[TheJollyNihilist]

35. Lou Dobbs?

Do you agree with Lou Dobbs a lot? He's a populist...oh yeah, big time.

[primative1]

43. Lou Dobbs has some things right ...

Hope you figured that out yourself

[tigereye]

33. great handle, BTW

and welcome to DU!

[TheJollyNihilist]

34. Assume you were talking to me, so

Thanks and Thanks!

[many a good man]

38. I'm NON-IDEOLOGICAL but left-leaning

I ascribe to Reason, Rationality, and practicality; use logic and science to determine what works best, and be ready to chuck it if it doesn't work. I lean toward mixed-market socialism with a strong social welfare state. If privatizing works better, then privatize it, but you better be able to prove it. Markets in general work best, but must be regulated to the extent that both private and public interests benefit to the maximum possible.

[Daylin Byak]

39. I'm a social conservative Democrat

I'm for an admendment banning flag descretation, i'm againist gun control and gay marriage but i am pro-choice though.

But besides that i'm pretty liberal on other issues.

[TheJollyNihilist]

40. Why are you against gay marriage?

???

[Daylin Byak]

41. Because I believe marriage should be traditional between a man and a woman

That's why.

[TheJollyNihilist]

42. Is this because of your religious faith?

Or not because of religion? Just curious.

[Daylin Byak]

44. Yes because i'm a Roman-Catholic

[TheJollyNihilist]

45. That's a good reason to be personally opposed, but politically?

After all, this is a secular republic. Should religion really factor into public policy, under which everyone must live?

The Founding Fathers really went out of their way to make clear that the US is a secular republic.

[AZBlue]

46. Kudos for an excellent poll - and welcome to DU!

:hi:

[TheJollyNihilist]

47. Thanks!

So far, 14 members share my ideology. Not too shabby!

[AZBlue]

48. Ha! We're close -

I'm in the one right above, with 33 others. But I was actually debating between the two before I voted.

[TheJollyNihilist]

51. I pretty much never agree with Pat Buchanan,

EXCEPT when it comes to military/foreign affairs. I'm a Pat Buchanan/Gore Vidal isolationist. Not economically, mind you, but militarily.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

50. Social Liberal/Economic Moderate/Isolationist

[Alexander]

52. Social Liberal / Economic Moderate / Internationalist.

Here's how I'm a "Social Liberal":

-Abortion is none of the government's business.
-Whether someone is gay or not is none of the government's business. If two gay people want to get married, I think it should be allowed.
-Smoking a joint in your living room is none of the government's business. Marijuana, at least, should be legal, taxed and regulated, and the War on Drugs needs to end.
-Social Security must remain solvent forever, and must be backed up with real money - every penny of it, whatever it takes.
-Someone's preferred method of birth control is none of the government's business.
-Whether someone chooses to own guns or not, so long as they don't hurt anyone, is none of the government's business. The Assault Weapons Ban is cosmetic bullshit and doesn't solve anything. Concealed-carry should also be allowed, but gun licenses should be provided only after a certain number of hours of training in gun safety and a certified test, like cars.
-The death penalty is unconstitutional and falls under "cruel and unusual punishment" as per Amendment VIII, as does torture.
-Affirmative action is a necessary counterweight to legacy admissions, which is affirmative action for rich white kids.
-The PATRIOT Act, the Military Commissions Act, the wiretapping and all other Bush administration attempts at weakening the 1st and 4th amendments are unconstitutional and must be stopped.
-Illegal immigration should be dealt with by punishing employers who hire illegals, supporting a livable minimum wage for Mexico, reforming legal immigration so it is easier to legally move to the USA, and giving current illegal immigrants 3 choices without negative repercussions: Sign up legally under a reformed immigration system, apply for a temporary work permit, or leave.
-Health care should be free for everyone and paid for by the government, unless it's purely cosmetic.
-The Kyoto Treaty must be followed.
-Net neutrality is absolutely necessary for the flow of free information.
-Citizen review boards should oversee cases of possible police brutality. They should have power to fire officers if they deem it necessary.
-The Fairness Doctrine must be renewed.
-The Equal Rights Amendment should be part of the US Constitution.

Here's how I'm an "Economic Moderate":

-I support a progressive income tax code, using a multiplier or algorithm instead of "income brackets".
-I do not believe in the redistribution of wealth or socialism.
-Minimum wage should be AT LEAST one dollar above the poverty line (assuming a 40 hour work week) and should be adjusted for inflation every year.
-Congress should have no pay raise unless and until every American is above the poverty line.
-The welfare system should be reformed so all monetary payments go hand-in-hand with a job according to the applicant's skills (if the applicant can work, of course). No job, no check. All other welfare should come in the form of housing, food, water, clothing and medical care - basic necessities.
-Roll back the Bush tax cuts, but beyond that taxes should remain low for everyone and we should mainly focus on enforcement of the tax laws. Close loopholes, crack down on tax cheats, etc., much like Dukakis's REAP program in the 80s in Massachusetts.
-Offer tax-based incentives for companies to have good environmental and human rights records.
-The budget should be balanced every year.
-The national debt should be completely paid off.
-Cancel NAFTA and CAFTA. If we need a trade agreement with Mexico we can pass a NAFTA II which is fairer to US interests and provides for a minimum wage in both countries.

Here's how I'm an "Internationalist":

-The US should send foreign aid in the form of basic necessities to starving and destitute people whenever possible. If the government can be trusted to distribute it fairly, give it to them. If not, find where the most destitute places are and distribute it through the UN.
-Consult with the UN and obtain approval before beginning any military action abroad. Lobby other countries to follow suit.
-The US should also lobby the UN where it sees fit, for example Libya shouldn't be on the Human Rights Commission. Influence should also be used to pressure the UN and member nations to take action in the case of human rights abuses.
-The CIA, if not dissolved entirely, should be reformed to comply with international law.
-A two-state solution, preferably mediated through the US and UN, should answer the Israel-Palestine conflict. Also, violent factions should be marginalized in favor of diplomats. Recognition of both Israel & Palestine and their right to exist should be a prerequisite for negotiations.
-Trade with foreign countries should be adjusted to match the respective country's human rights record. At least 50% of goods in the US should be made in the US.

Broad, yes. But otherwise I'd be here typing all night. ;-)

[AX10]

53. kick

[LeftishBrit]

54. On the borderline between 'socialist' and 'extreme liberal', I suppose

I think that the most important things that a society can do are to care for those who are temporarily or permanently vulnerable; to prevent serious poverty; and ensure the provision of essential services including health care and education. I am not terribly ideological about the philosophies behind these things; but in practice a society that does these things effectively will IMO be (democratic) socialist, or very liberal.

While I am strongly in favour of the state's role in providing essential services, I object to excessive directiveness in managing every detail of people's lives and activities. 20 years ago, this might have been described as my 'more conservative side', and why I could never support Soviet-style communism for example. However, the religious right (both Christian and Moslem varieties) seem to have adopted this directive attitude in spades; and so, to a lesser but important degree, has our 'modernizing' managerialist British government.