[Vision2020] Political Compass

[Kai Eiselein, editor]

Still about the same. Economic Left/Right: -0.25, Social 
Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.25

"Only from the high ground in the center can one truly see the wasteland 
created by those who are blinded by partisanship."
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
To: "Kenneth Marcy" <kmmos1 at verizon.net>; "Chasuk" <chasuk at gmail.com>; 
"Vision2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 6:08 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Political Compass


> This test surfaced here on the Viz durinig the last federal election
>
> I am rated at:
>
> Economic Left/Right: -4.50
> Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -4.00
>
> This is fairly close to what I was expecting.  I am just a bit more left
> thanI was back in '04.
>
> Any others?
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
>
>> On Monday 04 February 2008 00:42, Chasuk wrote:
>> > On Feb 4, 2008 12:29 AM, Kenneth Marcy <kmmos1 at verizon.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > > http://www.politicalcompass.org/index
>> >
>> >  I score as follows:
>> >
>> > Economic Left/Right: -8.88
>> > Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -9.03
>>
>> My scores are not quite as strong as yours, but are still very firmly in
>> that quadrant.
>>
>> > However, I am bothered by some aspects of the test, and question its
>> > objectivity.  Largely, I wish there was an "Undecided" option, and
>> > would prefer links to some of the assertions, providing a bit of
>> > relevant detail.
>>
>> Granting the test an "undecided" option for the questions would leave
>> an "easy out" for people to not register a response, which could weaken
>> substantially the test results, both individually and collectively.
>> The "forced choice" answer set, and the requirement to answer all
>> questions, creates greater completeness among the individual answer
> sets,
>> and therefore a better collective data set.
>>
>> > Pages 5 and 6 are unambiguous; the choices are easy.  Howwever, on
>> > page 4, I come across this:
>> >
>> > > A significant advantage of a one-party state is that it avoids all
> the
>> arguments that delay progress in a democratic political system.
>> >
>> > If I agree, am I arguing for a one-party state?  I don't want to live
>> > under a one-party state (which, arguably, I do), but I might concede
>> > that this assertion is true.
>>
>> If the nature of a local electorate is that it is so very homogeneous in
>> beliefs and policy preferences that dispensing with discussion and
> rational
>> argument creation and comparisons does not disadvantage the political
>> preferences and beliefs of any citizen, then a one-party state may
> actually
>> present governmental efficiency for that populace.
>>
>> However, it is my observation and experience that very few electorates
> are
>> so homogeneous as that description. The practical result is that one-
> party
>> states effectively deny political voice to minority viewpoints not in
>> agreement with the ruling majority. This creates personal unhappiness,
>> political dissatisfaction, and, occasionally, other stronger behaviors.
>>
>> > Still, fun page, I've spent many, many hours on it.
>>
>> Yes. I've known of this page for several years, and it is enjoyable to
>> return to it as it is updated to reflect contemporary candidates.
>> Unfortunately, a variety of factors act to herd the candidates together
> on
>> the chart, to the disadvantage of citizens and the detriment of better
>> governance.
>>
>>
>> Ken
>>
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>
>
> "People who ridicule others while hiding behind anonymous monikers in 
> chat-
> room forums are neither brave nor clever."
>
> - Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch (August 21,
> 2007)
>
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> =======================================================
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Kai Eiselein
Editor, Latah Eagle