Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Which Political Persuasion Fits You?


Take a "World's Smallest Political Quiz" to find your political identity! I got an 80 Personal & 50 Economic score-- straddling awkwardly, cusped cornered on a Centrist cube precisely where it meets angles of Libertarian and Left-Liberal. Bordering Libs and Libbies, but hanging on the edgy Centrist frontier. I do not reside in three jurisdictions. I'm pinpointed right where three meet, but I do not cross over. (That red dot's for explanatory purposes at the site; I rest above it at the north-west triple junction.)

But make sure you follow directions on how to chart your score on the diagram. I read this wrong, typically, the first time when I found myself somewhat to my (if not those who know me) bewilderment pegged smack in right-conservative regimentation collared quite a bit away from centrist wishy-washy asylum, drifting towards the Iron Curtain of an authoritarian satrapy! So, on re-examination if not re-education from any Politically Correct Thinking Cadre, I confess after mathematical rehabilitation and verbal discipline to allegiances swinging more lefty than I'd have predicted, but neatly as close to libertarian as well as liberal-land. Must be my lifelong residency on the Left Coast, in my native city of fruits and nuts. But, I refuse to respect Ayn Rand despite my last blog post's affection for massively bound, closely printed prose.

Interesting to guess where you think you will define yourself before you take the quiz. Compare your estimation with its findings afterwards. It's only ten questions. Does this prove me a moral degenerate but still safely far from a crypto-fascist?

Here are the "Slightly Right" website's helpful definitions for all five varieties of political philosophies. Go on, label yourself. I'd wear three stickers one on top of the other, or all, or none. It figures I'd still be as unpredictable and unclassifiable as when a quiz years ago put me closest in my economic preference and political philosophy to the unlikely confab of Ralph Nader & Pat Buchanan.

Libertarian
Libertarians are self-governors 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 tolerate economic and social diversity. They are strong constitutionalists.

Left-Liberal

Left-Liberals prefer self-government in personal matters and central decision-making on economics. They want government to serve the disadvantaged in the name of fairness. Leftists tolerate social diversity, but work for economic equality.

Centrist

Centrists favor selective government intervention and emphasize practical solutions to current problems. They tend to keep an open mind on new issues. Many centrists feel that government serves as a check on excessive liberty.

Right-Conservative
Right-conservatives prefer self-government on economic issues, but want official standards in personal matters. They want the government to defend the community from threats to its moral fiber.

Authoritarian
Authoritarians want government to advance society and individuals through expert central planning. They often doubt whether self-government is practical. Left-authoritarians are also called socialists, while fascists are right-authoritarians.

Credit: I found this quiz via the comments reacting to the call (which I heartily support if the party's not Cynthia McKinney's Greens or the Libertarian-as-a-Party-cum-Objectivist posse) for a viable third party from "Liberal Rapture," where an unpredictable cabal of generally left-leaning but like me iconoclastic malcontents lurk and rant. Thanks to J-SOM and Lynne there for adding me to their Blog Heaven roll! I have done the same since I began reading LR, alerted by a fellow traveller who gravitates towards dissent-- just prior to the last presidential election.

No comments: