Monday, April 24, 2006

Political philosophy quiz

Warning: Political opinions follow.

Saw this on Ahistoricality. I took the quiz twice. Below is the second result, but they were fairly consistent across trials.

Interesting. I have nearly always considered myself an independent, that is, until the last presidential election. I was, and continue to be, so disgusted with George Bush and company, and all that they represent, in destroying our country, in destroying our standing in the world, in destroying the mutual respect of others that is a hallmark of what America has and can be. I contributed twice, rather hefty sums to the Democratic National Committee, and proudly displayed stickers and signs in support of Kerry/Edwards. The stickers remain on my vehicles. I won't take them off, until those other idiots are out of leadership in my country!

I am embarassed for the things we have done. I am ashamed to talk with my Croatian friends, for our misuse of their territory to transport torture victims. I feel deeply distraught over our hypocrisy, especially in light of the (undoubtably deserved) war crimes trial of now-deceased Slobodan Milosevic. I'd love to see some of our own perpetrators stand trial at the Hague. I won't prejudge their fates. That's what trials are for. But I would not weep (in sadness at least) to see Donald Rumsfeld in the dock, arguing before a world court that degrading and humiliating treatment, beatings, torture, and murder, the unnecessary death of thousands, tens of thousands, likely more than a hundred thousand people (discussion), is somehow justified. Yes, it is less than what has been done in Darfur, less than what happened in Cambodia, less than Rwanda, less than Nazi Germany. But unjust, inexcusable, and indefensible nonetheless.

My favorite TV show (in fact the only new show that I even watch regularly, is ABC's Commander in Chief which is FINALLY back on the air, after about a three month hiatus. I like the character of Mackenzie Allen (played by Geena Davis), the fiery, idealistic, and driven independent president. I think the show makes some strong political statements about many of the failings of the current administration, without excusing the limitations of the opposition. Maybe it is time for a shakeup of the decrepit two-party system we have, IFF we can ensure that the neo-cons go down, for a very very very long time!

You scored as New Democrat. New Democrats emphasize fiscal conservatism, and have a strong preference for the free market. They believe in small-scale programs that provide targetted help to those in need, while working with the business community.

New Democrat


90%

Old School Democrat


85%

Green


60%

Foreign Policy Hawk


40%

Libertarian


35%

Pro Business Republican


20%

Socially Conservative Republican


10%

What's Your Political Philosophy?
created with QuizFarm.com

3 comments:

Ahistoricality said...

I find it interesting that you actually scored as high as I did on Old School, but way higher on New Dem, without a lot of alteration in the other scores: must have been some clearly New-Dem question you answered "right" and I didn't.

I've been saying for years that the Republican party should split into at least three wings: social conservative (which is a euphemism, of course), libertarian and moderate. Then the Democratic party can split into moderate, Socialist Green and "special interest" parties without being overwhelmed, but until it happens, I'm going to argue for Big Tents....

ArticulateDad said...

I think the first round through the quiz, I scored 85% New Dem and 80% Old. But the trends basically held. I'd say I'm definitely fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Not sure I have a "strong preference for the free market", but then I do prize The Economist as a news weekly of choice, and they're definitely free marketers.

As for big tents, well there was a chance a few years back with the Reform party, was it? But that turned out to be big-eared billionaire fathers of UFO kidnapping victims, and loud-mouthed pro-wrestlers. Ah well.

Maybe the trick is for the Democrats to gain a moderate mandate in the midterms, then a weak, but still strong enough majority in the next presidentials. That might just be enough to kick the Republicans into splinters, and embolden enough liberals and progressives to jump to the Greens, or form other groups that force debate, open up elections to a wider slew of candidates, with a diversity of ideas.

Ahistoricality said...

I've become a bit more market-friendly in my old(!) age but every time I read libertarians writing what they really think, I shift left again....

In the absence of full-scale parliamentism, I've been rooting for moderate Dems and Repubs to split off and form a real centrist party, but every time "centrists" start to organize, I remember why nobody takes them seriously. I think there's a place for coherent (even passionate) moderates, but neither party really values them except as front-men.

By the way: extra points for using "IFF" correctly