On the standard left-right scale, how do you distinguish leftists like Stalin and Gandhi? It's not sufficient to say that Stalin was simply more left than Gandhi. There are fundamental political differences between them that the old categories on their own can't explain. Similarly, we generally describe social reactionaries as 'right-wingers', yet that leaves left-wing reactionaries like Robert Mugabe and Pol Pot off the hook.
So are you ready to take the test?
So are you ready to take the test?
11 comments:
I ended up being Libertarian Left, almost exactly aligned with Nelson Mandela.
I aggree with this assessment. I took this test about a year ago and came out "Libertarian Right."
Some of the language defies my world view, such as:
"If economic globalisation is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather than the interests of trans-national corporations." I believe that it is impossible to serve one without serving the other. The author of this statement has an understanding of economics that contradicts my own. I had to answer here, "strongly disagree", but not for a reason understood by the the author.
"Our race has many superior qualities, compared with other races." I answered "strongly disagree", though this statement assumes that I believe that there exists any "races" within the human race.
"Controlling inflation is more important than controlling unemployment." I don't even think that either can be "controlled"! I selected "Agree", since "controlling inflation" can mean Milton Friedman-style monetary policy, and "controlling employment" usually means government-mandated jobs.
"People are ultimately divided more by class than by nationality." I don't even know what this means. I suspect it reflects the anti-free market notion that free markets comprise static "classes" that are similar to castes, wherein people born into one are destined to remain there forever. But what is meant here by "nationality"? Are Nigerian immigrants to the US "Americans" here? Are "black" americans here "American" or "African-American"? I don't understand. I selected "agree" because I believe that people within a particular class have behaviors and expectations that are essentially similar.
"The most important thing for children to learn is to accept discipline." What does "displine" mean here? Rigorously completing your homework? Or accepting every order from every authority without question? I selected "disagree" here.
"What's good for the most successful corporations is always, ultimately, good for all of us." I don't know of any free marketeer who would support this statement! I picked "disagree". I suspect that some anti-free marketeers wrote these statements with no consultation from a free marketeer, who could have ensured accurate articulation of our perspective.
Economic Left/Right: 3.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 0.87
Many of the questions were very leading and since there was no middle-of-the-road choice (you either agree or disagree) I was forced to choose up sides on many questions where I consider myself to be right down the middle.
According to the test, I'm right there with Paul Martin as a social libertarian, authoritarian.
Baloney.
"Making peace with the establishment is an important aspect of maturity." What? That depends on "the establishment". I am glad that Denmark Vessey never "made peace" with the South Carolina government! I put "agree", since I assume that this statement refers to contemporary US institutions.
I come out right in the middle of Libertarian - Right. On the 0 - 10 Right scale, I'm about a five; on the 0 - 10 Libertarian scale I'm also about a five. I'm listed nearest Milton Friedman.
I also wanted to answer "sometimes" or "it depends". I think the questions were intentionally worded as they were in order to force you one way or the other. You could get lost forever in the conditional nature of each statement.
But from what I know about Nelson Mandela, I would say my assessment was pretty accurate.
I agree with my final assessment, but in all cases where I didn't like the questions, I am certain that they could have been revised to both your and my satisfaction. It appears that the authors are leftists who do not quite understand many key views of people like me. This project ought to involve both people like you and me, to ensure that the questions properly seperate us.
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