Political Compass


The test makes the distinction between economics and how SOCIALY authoritarian you are.


I think the test satisfies your query, as surely a left wing ecomomy would be classed as being more Authoritarian ecomonically than a right wing one, which is all for free markets?


Likewise with Social affiliation: Its all to do with degrees, It is all one big grey. For example Im pretty much anti abortion (that is to say, I can accept it in some circumstances)- and I dont think Canabis should be legalised for a number of reasons, (I favour slapping the user on the wrist and locking the dealer up with a view to rehabilitation - that is cure the social probs - and maybe you wont get people aspiring to drug dealing... but maybe people are basically greedy and will do it anyway for the money??? hmmmm) and I came out as a libertarian!

So do you propose we have two compasses - one for economics, and one for social sensibilities?

I have emailed the site with a link to this thread - hopefully a representative of theirs can answer.



From the site's feedback section:

I found your compass very interesting - but there is a third dimension that you have not included: Finance. There is a tendency for richer individuals to vote for the authoritarian right because they tend to lower taxes, relative to the left. A further set of questions looking at whether one's heart rule one's head / whether walletry factors might change the way you vote would make the site even more interesting!
- Prof. Tim Reynolds, Queen's Hospital, Burton-on-Trent. UK
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I guess that this is akin to what you are saying?

Also have a read of the FAQ
 
[ THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC RESPONSE ]



Thank you for your interest in the Political Compass.



Frankly, we've been overwhelmed by the level of traffic to the site, and the amount of great feedback we're receiving.



We apologise that at this time, we aren't able to answer questions personally.



You may find an answer to your query on our 'Frequently Asked Questions' page.



Best regards



David Wayne

[The Political Compass]
Click to expand...

Damn - I was really hoping they would reply.
 
Bobsonsirjonny posted on Jan 5 2004 said:
I think the test satisfies your query, as surely a left wing ecomomy would be classed as being more Authoritarian ecomonically than a right wing one, which is all for free markets?
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yes, but a lot of people who who would be Economically authoritarian (ie: left economically as you state), would also be socially libertarian, and putting these two things together to either brand someone as Libertarian or Authoritarian seems silly to me......
A person could be very authoritarian in some aspects, but very libertarian in others.
 
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declaration posted on Jan 5 2004 said:
Bobsonsirjonny posted on Jan 5 2004 said:
I think the test satisfies your query, as surely a left wing ecomomy would be classed as being more Authoritarian ecomonically than a right wing one, which is all for free markets?
Click to expand...
yes, but a lot of people who who would be Economically authoritarian (ie: left economically as you state), would also be socially libertarian, and putting these two things together to either brand someone as Libertarian or Authoritarian seems silly to me......
A person could be very authoritarian in some aspects, but very libertarian in others.
Click to expand...
But it doesnt brand them as simply libertarian or authoritarian - it has introduced the extra dimension - hence the vehicle of the compass.

The subtitle of this thread is: "Are you a left wing facist" - a combination which most would see as absurd - untill you see the compass.

You could be left Authoritarian, Left Lilbertarian, Right Authoritarian, Right Libertarian - even Centre Authoritarian, Centre Libertarian, and all degrees in between.
 
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yes but a person could be a strong left wing authoritarian on some issues, but a strong left wing libertarian on other types of issues- this scale does not accurately account for this, and would just account for the average between the two, ie- in the middle. This would only be relevant where a person was libertarian on personal issues, but authoritarian on economic issues, or vice-versa.
Coming to that conclusion would not really give an accurate description of a persons political beliefs.
But, i suppose that a 100% accurate test is impossible.

Take my results as an example. I was branded very libertarian, but would consider myself to be economically authoritarian in my thoughts.
 
From the test I read that you are very Authoritarian Economically - and Libertarian from a social point of view.

I understand what you mean by averageing between the two though - however I feel it is better than mearly lableings someone left or right.
Sit the test in a few months time and see where you land - I have moved, admittedly to a different position in the same quadrant.
 
I got a reply from the folks at the political compass:


I told them my score:

Thanks for the feedback.


Economic Left/Right: - 3.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.08


..looks pretty social democratic to us.
Click to expand...


In reply to my Email - and Declarations points made on the site:

"Many people cite wrong things
The test is a lie. Authoratarian/Libertarian can be totally different in
relation to economic freedom/ personal freedom.
Many people would be economically authoritarian, but personally
libertarian (ie- relating to abortions/drugs etc). Or vice-versa. Therefore, imho it is quite misleading to lump these things together to
create a number. Just, as the traditional political spectrum can be
misleading, so can this one."



POLITICAL COMPASS: Curious. Lumping the two things is what is commonly done. At the core of our concept is their separation! We seldom enter into any correspondence - and we certainly don't do it on behalf of others.

He either hasn't read our explanations or has failed to grasp them.

You tell him.


ME:  Ive noticed a pattern emerging - most of my mates who went to uni etc seem to all be left libertarians - but - my mates who after finishing secondary school wentand got a job, (or in the case of one-  messed around for years - came
up with a blinding idea, and is now making money from it) are on the
whole right Libertarian.


POLITICAL COMPASS: That is a fairly usual tendency.
Click to expand...



BOBSON: I mentioned in passing this site to one of the political historian
lecturers where I work - he is a marxist. I think
what rilled him was when I said that the site explains how if you
removed economic policy Hitler and Stalin would have had plenty of
common ground......He said he dissagreed with the notion of a compass,
the extra dimension - the reason he gave I found strange - it was
something along the lines of : "Its only because you get all these right
wingers who just because they basically agree with paying a little
income tax they concider themselves to be libertarians" (he put it more
eloquently than I have) I didnt ask him - but I am a little confused as
to what he meant by that.


POLITICAL COMPASS: Hey! Are all your associates so unwilling to actually read  about what they voice such strong opinions on?  That caretaker might have given you more thoughtful feedback.

Our texts refer in several places to libertarians who are only libertarian because they don't wish to pay taxes.  FAQ 13 also deals with this.  Our precise point is that economic libertarians have no automatic claim to being also socially libertarian. Even a cursory glance at our reading lists makes this abundantly clear. Indeed, we identify Pinochet as an example of a  socially reactionary free marketeer.

However, we stand by our assertion re Hitler and Stalin on the social scale. 
Click to expand...
 
Nice... of them to reply, as well. I didn't think they would seeing as most political analysts seem to be arrogant bastards. Although there is a hint of condescending insults, they did at least help some of the guys on this thread. Personally I don't think you're ever going to sum up someone's beliefs with 2 numbers, but ah well.
 
Rico posted on Jan 6 2004 said:
Nice... of them to reply, as well. I didn't think they would seeing as most political analysts seem to be arrogant bastards. Although there is a hint of condescending insults, they did at least help some of the guys on this thread. Personally I don't think you're ever going to sum up someone's beliefs with 2 numbers, but ah well.
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i agree with that.
Categorising people like this should be avoided, but its the easiest way to do things.

I suppose it makes more sense now, but i still dont like it.....
 
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