The Political Spectrum-What is the Political motivation of our community

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  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    I took the quiz and it was mildly interesting.
    I was not surprised with the results.
    But I'm not sharing my info.
    I think this thread is a little like a powder keg, just waiting for a match.
  • Posts: 75
    I am a conservative, and I own a business and I play rugby.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    Center-right moderate social libertarian apparently.

    Not at all happy with that as I am much more right wing.

    The trouble with the test being so American is that on every question about religion unless you answer you are a God botherer you are marked down as being leftist and so your score is swayed.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,280
    Center-right moderate social libertarian apparently.

    Not at all happy with that as I am much more right wing.

    The trouble with the test being so American is that on every question about religion unless you answer you are a God botherer you are marked down as being leftist and so your score is swayed.

    Yes, politically we sing off the same hymn sheet, Ice. :)
  • edited July 2014 Posts: 11,425
    I am a wishy washy liberal.

    You are a left social moderate.
    Left: 5, Libertarian: 0.22

    The lines between left and right have blurred so much in recent years. In the UK, to be on the left these days is often to hold views that were mainstream in the Conservative party 40 years ago. I'm not really sure what 'left' means to be honest, although the flip side of this is that a lot on the right have gone ever more extreme.

    I personally find it sad the way that what used to be mainstream Tories - Ken Clarke, Hezza- are now basically out on a tiny left-wing fringe of the Conservatives. Quite worrying, especially as the Labour Party is about as inspiring and appealing at the moment as a plate of congealed vomit. I get the impression the same is true in the US (probably even more so) - mainstream conservatives and struggling to fend off a highly vocal assault from the lunatic right.

    It is interesting though how in the UK at least, there is a lot of common ground on social issues. The parties like to make out that they have huge differences, and there are of course important fault lines, but often they are seeking the same ends by slightly different means. Universal access to free healthcare is pretty much sacrosanct in the UK and I can't see that changing anytime soon - it would be political suicide for any one to suggest otherwise. And it was a 'Conservative' government that introduce gay marriage in the UK.

    I think the big issues these days in the UK - at least as far as I'm concerned - are about education, the economy and the environment. The Tories have made Europe into an issue and a major concern, but it isn't actually something that most voters really care about. And of course I am interested in foreign policy, but I think the UK's global role is much diminished following the catastrophe or Iraq and likely to diminish further if the Tory loons get their way and take us out of the EU - diplomatic oblivion beckons.
  • edited July 2014 Posts: 4,622
    I just did the quiz....right wing social moderate...blah blah blah....and I even took pains to make sure I wouldn't skew left, and they still call me a moderate which is bs......
    I find the mushy middle the lamest place to be.
    Most of the questions though are leading and designed to ultimately convince you that you are more liberal than you really are....ie that you believe the state should have maybe a bigger role to play in all aspects of our lives than you thought....so the little light bulb goes off in your head.
    Typical is the health care question. The survey asks is "access" a right.Most people will understandably answer yes.
    We are humane indidividuals who don't want to see people suffer just because they are experiencing financial hardship.
    But the question "is access a right?," does not address the real question, which is what kind of access?
    I would honestly answer yes, and very strongly believe, to the simple question of access being a right, and I'm sure the survey would then skew me left, but my actual position is that I am dead set against obamacare or any universal public health care system.
    Rather, I support a market system, in which people with jobs or any financial means could efficiently purchase the insurance coverge they actually want or need, supported by government-paid options for those who don't have cash.
    Anyone that failed to purchase insurance would simply be taxed accordingly and assigned basic public coverage. That way everyone is covered, without debt-ridden government having to underwrite the entire system.
    My position is a commonly held conservative position, however if I answer the survey honestly, ie I do believe "access" is a right, I'm sure the survey would skew me left, thus I magically become a social "moderate", when I am actually socially conservative.
    Meanwhile, others with an agenda, can actually spin my answers to support something like Obamacare. Absurd.

    Mark Twain famously declared, there are Lies, damn lies and statistics. He could have added surveys.
  • edited July 2014 Posts: 11,425
    @timmer, you are right. The questions were very leading with a left-liberal bias. The wording clearly nudged you in a certain direction.

    I respect strongly and sincerely held views of most persuasions and I think too much emphasis is put on the supposed differences between left and right. In most developed countries there is a huge amount of common ground and the generally smooth operation of government and markets generally reflects that. The vast majority of people are not interested in ideology or blinkered and fictional dichotomies between 'markets' and 'govt'.

    I always find it hilarious when British Conservatives point to the US as a model for a non-interventionist state, when public sector spending on health in America is equal to that in the UK (the US just happens to pay twice as much again on private healthcare). The US props up and subsidises countless industries and has stategically promoted R+D to promote new developments in areas of science and technology that have directly led to private sector growth. In fact, this is what most successful economies around the world do. The idea that if government just sat back and did nothing, everything would be hunky-dory is a fantasy. It's exactly the approach we've taken in the UK for the past 35 years and our economy is basically now on life support as a consequence - kept alive through property booms and the dwindling UK financial services sector.

    The economic argument is often couched in similar terms in the UK and US, but the reality in terms of how UK and American conservatives implement economic policy in practice could not be more stark. Both Reagan and Bush oversaw uncontrolled and massive increases in the national debt and did little or nothing to cut subsidies to the huge agricultural and military sectors. The UK Conservatives are true to their word and are overseeing substantial cuts in government expenditure - although ironically the end result has been very similar - continued massive growth in the national debt, as economic growth is choked off by government cuts.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,800
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,304
    Dare I say, a potentially incendiary thread has turned quite...collegial?
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,800
    Our minor differences define us as individuals; our shared Human goals define us as a group.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Our minor differences define us as individuals; our shared Human goals define us as a group.

    That's a brilliant way to state it, mate! =D>
  • Posts: 12,473
    For anyone who cares, being a born-again Christian, I am conservative. However, I wouldn't classify myself as Republican or Democrat, as I don't entirely lean on one or the other.
  • Posts: 39
    @FoxRox For what its worth I care. I am also a Christian (we seem to be a rare breed on the internet so it's nice to find another christian on here which seems to be dominated by athiests).

    When I step up toI try to follow in Jesus footsteps when I step up to wolves to the polling voice. Would Jesus would have advocated the GOP in my opinion.
  • Posts: 39
    I just reread my post above and iI think it screwed up my last sentence. I meant to say step up to the polling BOOTH.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    TakeASip wrote: »
    I just reread my post above and iI think it screwed up my last sentence. I meant to say float up to the polling BOOTH.

    Corrected.
  • Posts: 1,817
    "As a good Socialist, I'm going for the money. As a good capitalist, I'm sticking with the revolution, because if you can't beat it spy on it."

    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
  • Posts: 908
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Our minor differences define us as individuals; our shared Human goals define us as a group.

    That's a brilliant way to state it, mate! =D>

    Second that big way!
  • Posts: 908
    TakeASip wrote: »
    @FoxRox For what its worth I care. I am also a Christian (we seem to be a rare breed on the internet so it's nice to find another christian on here which seems to be dominated by athiests).

    Jesus would have advocated the GOP in my opinion.

    Surely because they adhere to his message most meticulously?
    I sincerely hope I got you wrong. Otherwise this would be a most ridiculous statement!
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