# Neo-Con Quiz at CS Monitor **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 6, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010 "2004-01-06T14:54:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/1 "2004-01-06T14:54:49Z")
[Neo Con Quiz](http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/neocon/quiz/neoconQuiz.html) I came up as “most likely a liberal”. Now let other dopers show their colors too. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/2 "2004-01-06T15:27:10Z")
It says I am a “realist”. What a crock. 😉 Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/3 "2004-01-06T15:30:06Z")
realist ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/4 "2004-01-06T16:09:16Z")
Neocon. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/5 "2004-01-06T16:21:46Z")
Realist. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/6 "2004-01-06T16:24:13Z")
Liberal ---
**Author:** ![laigle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@laigle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laigle)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/7 "2004-01-06T16:24:40Z")
I couldn’t find any answers I agreed with. I’m sure that means I’m a raving loon or some such. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/8 "2004-01-06T16:38:01Z")
Neocon. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/9 "2004-01-06T17:12:29Z")
Realist. Though I suspect I was just an answer or two from liberal. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Saen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Saen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saen)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/10 "2004-01-06T17:14:29Z")
realist ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/11 "2004-01-06T17:23:38Z")
Liberal (shocker, I know). ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/12 "2004-01-06T17:41:41Z")
Liberal What is funny, is that the Neocon answers all have the “morally justifiable use of force” phrase. Nothing like being moral about dropping bombs on people. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/13 "2004-01-06T18:13:31Z")
Many of the elements in the different nutshell descriptions are things, that when qualified, I’d agree with. For example: > [@](#): > > **Isolationists** … > > Are wary of US involvement in the United Nations > > Believe the US should not act as a global cop > > Oppose American imperialism > > Desire to preserve what they see as America’s national identity and character It’s always good, IMHO, to be “wary” of anything with serious ramifications. What’s in it for the US as a “global cop”? American imperialism seems to be an unecessary activity. The national “identity” and “character” we have have lots of good things about them. Preserve the good, change the bad. > [@](#): > > **Liberals** … > > Are wary of American arrogance and hypocrisy > > Believe political solutions are inherently superior to military solutions > > Support international law, alliances, and agreements > Encourage US participation in the UN Again, it’s good to be “wary” of anything with serious ramifications. IIRC, both Sun Tzu and Machiavelli both agree that political solutions are superior to military solutions- cheaper and less risky for the State, and are ultimately backed up by the threat of diplomatic, economic and military force anyway. Intl law, alliances and the UN all promote means of codifying diplomatic and trade activities among the nations of the Earth. Since I’m not in favor of conquering nor obliterating the other nations of the Earth, I’m stuck with having to live with them. A code of conduct agreed upon by principals seems like a great way of handling intl affairs. > [@](#): > > **Realists** … > > Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision > Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa > Don’t want US policy options _ **unduly** _ limited by world opinion or ethical considerations > Believe strong alliances are important to US interests > Weigh the political costs of foreign action > Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national interest Other than the emphasis on “unduly”, this doesn’t need qualifying. > [@](#): > > **Neoconservatives** … > > Want the US to be the world’s unchallenged superpower > > Support American unilateral action > Support preemptive strikes to remove perceived threats to US security > > Seek to democratize the Arab world > Push regime change in states deemed threats to the US or its allies Being an unchallenged superpower sure has its conveniences. I’m in favor of it, esp through the development of US’s capabilities. I’m not opposed to “American unilateral action.” If the definition of “[preemption](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=4274124&highlight=preventive#post4274124)” is the one that involves an imminent threat, (opposed to the one that means _[preventive](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=4274124&highlight=preventive#post4274124)_) how can one be opposed to that? I’m all for seeking to “democratize democratize the Arab world” through the US’s “soft power.” I’m all for regime change “in states deemed threats to the US or its allies” through “soft power”, xpt when there’s an imminent threat, then see above. Of course, there’re parts of most all of these that I’d disagree with too. ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/14 "2004-01-06T18:15:10Z")
Realist ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/15 "2004-01-06T18:26:08Z")
Quiz says I’m a **Gun Bunny**. 🙂 Ok, it really says: “Based on your answers, you are most likely a **realist**. Read below to learn more about each foreign policy perspective.” > [@](#): > > Realist > > Realists… > > Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision > Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa > Don’t want US policy options unduly limited by world opinion or ethical considerations > Believe strong alliances are important to US interests > Weigh the political costs of foreign action > Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national interest > Historical realist: President Dwight D. Eisenhower > > Modern realist: Secretary of State Colin Powell I’ve found these quizzes to be mostly bullshit though. Reguards, XT (back from the outer darkness) ---
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/16 "2004-01-06T18:27:40Z")
Realist. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/17 "2004-01-06T18:33:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xtisme \* > \*\* > I’ve found these quizzes to be mostly bullshit though. > \*\* [\*\*[Results are not scientific.] \*\*](http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/neocon/quiz/neoconQuiz.html) ---
**Author:** ![akrako1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@akrako1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akrako1)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/18 "2004-01-06T18:51:54Z")
liberal. big surprise. ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/19 "2004-01-06T18:53:10Z")
Actually I thought the quiz was decent. The ten questions covered a good range of foreign policy issues. The possible answers were quite detailed and fair. There were four categories instead some simple left-right dichotomy. Of course ultimately a short quiz and a simple label isn’t going to capture the full nuances of any individual’s position but this quiz is a useful quick tool for sorting out people’s views IMO. ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010/20 "2004-01-06T19:07:02Z")
I hear by call for the dismantling of the Democratic and Republican parties. They shall be replaced by the Isolationists Party of America, the Liberal party, the Realist Political Affiliation, and the National Federated Neoconservatives of the global hegemony. I can hear the grind of grid lock now 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-con-quiz-at-cs-monitor/223010.md?page=2)