Yes, it's that time again, Vince! ACS Political Compass / 2005 edition!

[Az]

[Kuciwalker]

OK, OK, I'll take it.

Wow, there are a lot of stupid questions on it. Let's just list 'em as I go...

If economic globalisation is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather than the interests of trans-national corporations.

This presumes that they are necessarily opposed, and that you care which interests it serves. What if you support it out of principle?

I'll put "Agree", but meh.

There is now a worrying fusion of information and entertainment.

What's this have to do with politics? Sure it's worrying, no the government shouldn't do anything about it. I'll put disagree.

It's a sad reflection on our society that something as basic as drinking water is now a bottled, branded consumer product.

Again, yes this is rather pathetic, but what's it have to do with politics? Disagree.

Good parents sometimes have to spank their children.

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH POLITICS?! It's not like anyone advocates government-applied spankings. Agree.

It's natural for children to keep some secrets from their parents.

More than stupid, it's an easily answered empirical question, not one of ideology.

When you are troubled, it's better not to think about it, but to keep busy with more cheerful things.

WTF?

Abstract art that doesn't represent anything shouldn't be considered art at all.

WTF?

Astrology accurately explains many things.

WTF?

You cannot be moral without being religious.

I can see how this MIGHT be an OK question, but it's still way too apolitical.

Some people are naturally unlucky.

WTF? How does not comprehending statistics determine someone's political ideology?

I would not wish to send my child to a school that did not instill religious values.

Quit it with all the negatives; you guys SUCK at writing questions. Rewrite it as "I would wish to send my child to a school that instills religious values."

I've moderated slightly. Must've been that I didn't do too many strongly agree/disagree, and the first question. 2.75/-2.97.

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
Economic Left/Right: -7.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.15

What happened to you? You turned your back on America, and now this? A long time ago, I remember you as someone who was logical and had a decent thought process, then you slide off into the illogical part of the map on a side where people don't use common logic. Your economic views can't work.

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
OK, OK, I'll take it.

Wow, there are a lot of stupid questions on it. Let's just list 'em as I go...

Wow, talk about missing the point. It isn't supposed to be a "which party do you support" quiz or a "which of these proposed pieces of legislation would you vote for" test. The idea is to roughly translate your views on somewhat everyday issues into a two-dimensional political spectrum. Of course it's not going to be perfect, and I fully agree with you that some of the questions are poorly written, but if you only asked political questions you may as well just say "here's a grid, put yourself wherever you feel you should fall".

[Az]

Red Striker

[Jaguar]

Kuci, I think the Astrology is a leftist one.

[Az]

It's not a leftist one, it's a totalitarian one. If you believe in astrology you're more totalitarian ( which is true ) .

[Provost Harrison]

Drat, I've been out-commied

[Spiffor]

Kuci:
Political attitudes are not only measured by your opinions on specific political matters, but are also measured by Personality. So, questions about spanking your children can show an authoritarian trend, just like questions about whether children should be able to keep secrets (the "well, duh" is not an obvious answer to everyone).

Just like questions about the 'naturally unlucky' people may betray a belief about pre-established roles in existence, which often come along authoritarianism.
Edit: the question about abstract art clearly denotes authoritarianism. Authoritarians have a strong tendency to reject abstract art. Again, this belief mirrors the idea there are some absolutes ('Art' is an absolute, in that the respondent takes upon himself to define "Art"), and the absolutely good things should be rewarded, while the absolutely bad things should suffer from something negative. It is interesting to see that all authoritarian regimes that have supported arts, always rejected/punished abstract art and sponsored 'realistic' art.

A good political poll is not a poll where you understand what replies you should give to be in the category you strive for. At the contrary, a good political poll has many questions that are only indirectly related to politics, so that the respondent will give a sincere reply.

As for the questions asked negatively instead of positively: there is a documented tendency of the respondants to reply yes to questions. The usual methodology, to avoid this trap, is to ask as many questions where a Yes would give minus points, as questions where a Yes would give plus points. Sometimes, the results are indeed awkward, but there's a scientific motivation behind it, and not mere "stupidity".

[Giancarlo]

Hah, I think I'm the most far to the right economically. Good, I stand for economic freedom = personal freedom. The commies don't get it.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Giancarlo


What happened to you? You turned your back on America, and now this? A long time ago, I remember you as someone who was logical and had a decent thought process, then you slide off into the illogical part of the map on a side where people don't use common logic. Your economic views can't work.

There are a lot more intelligent and talented people than you who say it can (including myself )

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison


There are a lot more intelligent and talented people than you who say it can (including myself )

Everyone on the economic left is not intelligent and not talented. You should be ashamed of yourself. It just is not logical nor does it ever work (example: USSR).

[Kontiki]

And yet there aren't many people at 'poly who want less personal freedom than you. Go figure.

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by Kontiki
And yet there aren't many people at 'poly who want less personal freedom than you. Go figure.

You don't get it.

Leftism does not equal personal freedom

Economic freedom leads to personal freedom

I want more economic freedom, therefore I want more personal freedom then everyone else.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Giancarlo
I want more economic freedom, therefore I want more personal freedom then everyone else.

Yet there were many questions specifically aimed at Personal Freedoms, in which you showed you were far more authoritarian than the average Apolytoner, and far more authoritarian to the average lefty.