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Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

What’s on your mind – Open Thread

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While whiling away a late-March Saturday afternoon, I came across these results from a political compass quiz. The results seem to indicate more progressive participants than conservative ones. This makes some results stand out as a bit eyeopening. See if you can spot the ones that seem out of whack.

Currently, after 117538 submissions, the average Conservative/Progressive score is 6.04, the average Capitalist Purist/Social Capitalist score is 6.79, the average Libertarian/Authoritarian score is 5.58, and the average Pacifist/Militarist score is 4.43

1. Are our gun control laws too strict? – 27% said yes, 73% said no

2. Should gay marriage be legalized? – 66% said yes, 34% said no

3. Should we consider invading Iran? – 23% said yes, 77% said no

4. Should intelligent design be taught in public schools alongside evolution? – 52% said yes, 48% said no

5. Does the US need a system of universal health care? – 61% said yes, 39% said no

6. Should marijuana be legalized? – 58% said yes, 42% said no

7. Should we repeal [or substantially change] the Patriot Act? – 56% said yes, 44% said no

8. Does the US have a right to stop countries we do not trust from getting weapons? – 50% said yes, 50% said no

9. Should we end (or reduce the use of) the death penalty? – 40% said yes, 60% said no

10. Should there be a higher minimum wage? – 68% said yes, 32% said no

11. Does affirmative action do more harm than good? – 62% said yes, 38% said no

12. Is the United States spending too much money on defense? – 56% said yes, 44% said no

13. Should embryonic stem cell research be funded by the government? – 59% said yes, 41% said no

14. Should flag burning be legal? – 43% said yes, 57% said no

15. Should all people (rich and poor) pay fewer taxes? – 58% said yes, 42% said no

16. Should the US begin withdrawing from Iraq? – 80% said yes, 20% said no

17. Is it sometimes justified to wiretap US citizens without a warrant? – 34% said yes, 66% said no

18. Should the government be involved in reducing the amount of violence/pornography in tv/movies/games/etc? – 25% said yes, 75% said no

19. Should the United States only start a war if there is an imminent threat of being attacked ourselves? – 77% said yes, 23% said no

20. Should stopping illegal immigration be one of our top priorities? – 56% said yes, 44% said no

21. Is outsourcing of American jobs justified if it allows for cheaper goods? – 28% said yes, 72% said no

22. Are all abortions unethical? [with the exception of risk to mother’s health] – 37% said yes, 63% said no

23. Should social security be privatized? – 56% said yes, 44% said no

24. Should the United States ever go to war even if the UN is against it? – 50% said yes, 50% said no


Categories: Uncategorized.

/ 60 Comments

60 comments

  1. Chris Blask

    Watched Flock of Dodos on NetFlix recently. I think it answers why America has such a love/hate affair with Intelligent Design.

    The filmmaker is an evolutionary biologist, but he addresses the issue not by calling creationists idiots but rather looking at how the two sides communicate their message.

    Grand memes like “scientists are liberal elitists” don’t occur simply because some Evil Actor has launched an advertising campaign. They occur because they resonate with a broadly felt emotion. In this case a broadly felt – and correct – impression that a lot of educated people are arrogant buttheads.

    Being right about something – and being a dick about it – is no way to win an argument. I don’t doubt for a minute the veracity of evolution, or many of the arguments associated with that worldview, but science sucks at marketing. There is a consistent lesson in this for many who argue from a position of knowledge.

  3. John Allen

    I may already have posted something on the moose about this photographer. If so, it’s worth repeating.

    Rick Lieder is an artist and photographer living in the Detroit area. We worked together about 12 years ago. He was the graphic designer for a web development firm. I was the lead content developer with responsibility for usability and information architecture. We bumped heads a few times, as would be expected with such conflicting priorities, but I was always impressed by his talent. That talent has found expression in recent years with his focus on backyard nature photography.

    Take a look – http://microwilderness.com/man…

  4. Rashaverak

    The following are your scores. They are based on a gradual range of 0 to 12. For instance, a Conservative/Progressive score of 3 and 0 will both yield a result of social conservative, yet 0 would be an extreme conservative and 3 a moderate conservative

    Conservative/Progressive score: 9

    You are a social progressive. You generally consider yourself a humanist first. You probably think that religion and patriotism go too far in society. You probably consider yourself to be a citizen of Earth first rather than a citizen of your country.

    Capitalist Purist/Social Capitalist score: 12

    You’re a Social Capitalist, you think that, left to its own, Capitalism leaves a lot of people behind. You think that Health Care should be free to all, that the minimum wage should be raised, and that the government should provide jobs to all that are capable of having them. You likely hated the Bush tax cuts, and believe that the middle class has gotten poorer, and the rich have gotten richer over the past several years. The far extreme of social capitalism is socialism.

    Libertarian/Authoritarian score: 0

    You are libertarian. You think that the government is making way too many unnecessary laws that are taking away our innate rights. You believe that the government’s job is primarily to protect people from harming other people, but after that they should mind their own business, and if we give the government too much power in controlling our lives, it can lead to fascism.

    Pacifist/Militarist score: 1

    You’re a Pacifist. You are angered that the United States thinks it should dominate the world through its military force. You think that the only time war is necessary is when we are in direct danger of being attacked. You also believe the US spends way too much of its money on defense, as we can practically cut it in half and still easily defend ourselves, and use that money to fix all our economic problems.

    Overall, you would most likely fit into the category of Hardcore Democrat.

  5. fogiv

    When the incoming Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. came before the Senate for confirmation seven years ago, President Reagan’s solicitor general gave him a warm endorsement as a “careful, modest” judge.

    “He’s not a man on a mission,” Harvard Law professor Charles Fried testified, adding that Roberts was not likely “to embark on constitutional adventures.”

    [snip]

    After the healthcare arguments, Fried was among those who worried aloud about the prospect of the Roberts court embarking on a new era of judicial activism.

    If the court were to invalidate the healthcare law, “It would be more problematic than Bush v. Gore,” Fried said in an interview, referring to the case that decided the 2000 presidential race. “It would be plainly at odds with precedent, and plainly in conflict with what several of the justices have said before.”

    [snip]

    Fried had confidently predicted the law would be easily upheld. He said he was taken aback by the tone of the arguments. “The vehemence they displayed was totally inappropriate. They seemed to adopt the tea party slogans,” he said.

    http://www.latimes.com/health/…

  7. HappyinVT

    President Obama will introduce a new restoration of the 1962 courtroom drama “To Kill a Mockingbird” on April 7 on the USA Network.

    snip

    The airing on USA marks the first national broadcast of the movie since it was digitally remastered and restored by Universal Pictures and the American Film Institute in conjunction with Universal’s centennial this year.

    “I’m deeply honored that President Obama will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by introducing it to a national audience,” [Harper] Lee said in a statement. “I believe it remains the best translation of a book to film ever made, and I’m proud to know that Gregory Peck’s portrayal of Atticus Finch lives on — in a world that needs him now more than ever.”

    USA is broadcasting “To Kill a Mockingbird” as part of its “Characters Unite” public-service campaign, a bid to combat discrimination through on-air programming, digital content and events.

    http://latimesblogs.latimes.co…

  10. Strummerson

    And I think all the buzz about Willard’s affect on the majority of representatives of the female sex suggest that it’s Haley.  And she’s sort of black…  India is right next door to Africa, but I’m not sure you can see Africa from India.

  13. Adept2u

    So it’s been a bitch these last couple weeks I aint going to lie.  My TL is chock full of about to be blocked wingnuts telling me how Trayvon deserved it or how some story a neighbor told means there should be no trial, but every time my faith in mankind wants to waver I run across something like this.

    I will not fathom why RWNJ cannot even just once say yeah that’s fucked up you got a point it’s balls to the wall everytime for them.  Thanks little sweetie.

  14. DTOzone

    Obama started the Iraq war? Seriously heard an old lady say it in the supermarket today.

    Her friend agreed and then added that oil companies are screwing us all over because Obama won’t drill for more oil.

    Australia, do you have room for me?  

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