I voted middle left. Generally consider myself quite liberal on just about every social/political issue. And am as far left if not farther than most folk I encounter. But I often enough encounter folk/positions considerably to the left of me, that I did not feel I should call myself far (which I interpreted as extreme) left.
And like I suspected, on the Political Typology quiz, I come out as an “Opportunity Democrat” and on the Political compass, I come out 0.0 on Economic left/right, and -2.54 on the libertarian side.
So… a centrist, just like I thought!
Why is Centrist ‘Don’t give a shit’?? Anyway, I voted Centrist despite the stupid add on.
I got -3.63 on the economic left/right, and a -6.62 on the libertarian scale. Which seems about right. I don’t think I’ve changed much on the libertarian scale, but I’m pretty sure I was exactly at 0 economically the first time I took this type of test black in the early 90s. Looks like last time I took this test and posted on the Dope in 2012, I was -2.12 and -5.79. Though in 2008, I was -3.75 and -6.77. So I guess I’ve always been aggressively libertarian on social issues, and over the last decade to two floated a little bit left of center on economic issues.
What’s kind of interesting to me in this poll is that only a slim majority of those who took this poll identify themselves as middle or far left. Almost half of posters are lean left or more to the right. This does reflect my observation of the board, but with some of the posts here, you get the feeling that this board is overrun by Marxists or something. Believe me, I’ve seen leftist boards, and this is not an extreme place by any stretch. The crossword puzzle blog I check every day is far to the left of this place! (Hell, I never knew crosswords could get so political, but, damn, yes they can with some people I guess. I usually just have to roll my eyes and bite my tongue and continue to the next comment.)
This is not as clear cut as you think. I was a moderate Republican (let’s say Eisenhower Republican) for decades. I am now a screaming liberal, though my views haven’t changed. The Republican party has moved so far to the right, that I have been left, as it were.
I was really into Ayn Rand when I was young. Then I realized her entire philosophy depended on everyone playing ethically by a rule set. Without those rules (and we don’t have them) her entire philosophy falls apart.
By American standards I’m Middle Left. By UK standards I’m Centrist or Lean Left at most. Yes to equal rights and universal healthcare, but Marxism can fuck right off.
ETA: Oh, and I’m a former Republican, then Democrat and now Independent. When the Republicans went charging off to Crazytown I stayed behind, but the Democrats are a crapshow as well.
Exactly what I’ve been trying to say…
It’s hard to say though; what is centrist anymore? “Real Conservatives” these days will howl that you don’t qualify if you want to keep Medicare, or don’t support spending the Social Security fund on smart bombs.
Basically if you believe in maintaining any sort of social safety net at all then you are solidly Left of Center.
I assume for the same reason that the religious would prefer to associate with a heathen than with an atheist.