# The Political Gauge. Take the test and see how you score. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 20, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643 "2004-08-20T02:27:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![quelquechose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/6f9a4e/32.png) [@quelquechose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quelquechose)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/81 "2004-08-20T14:57:09Z")
Non-fiscal: 2 Fiscal: 10 I believe that makes me the second most liberal overall, the first being **Cheddarsnax**. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/82 "2004-08-20T15:00:22Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (36). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (20). I assumed as much. ---
**Author:** ![esquimalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@esquimalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/esquimalt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/83 "2004-08-20T15:07:14Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Centrist (48). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Conservative (64). ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/84 "2004-08-20T15:08:03Z")
People who are getting these ultra-liberal scores (20? 10!? 2!!!)… You are obviously picking mostly the “liberal” answers to the questions. However, I’m curious, did you also pick high priority for all of these questions? I’m wondering if giving something a higher priority just weighs it more than the others, or if it can actually push your score more in a direction. Basically, if two posters took the test and answered the same choices to all of the questions, but poster A picks “high” priority for every choice, while poster b leaves the priority at “medium”. Would they get the same score? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/85 "2004-08-20T15:13:51Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > People who are getting these ultra-liberal scores (20? 10!? 2!!!)… > > You are obviously picking mostly the “liberal” answers to the questions. However, I’m curious, did you also pick high priority for all of these questions? I’m wondering if giving something a higher priority just weighs it more than the others, or if it can actually push your score more in a direction. > > Basically, if two posters took the test and answered the same choices to all of the questions, but poster A picks “high” priority for every choice, while poster b leaves the priority at “medium”. Would they get the same score? I only chose a few highs and lows myself, medium was my priority for most things. Short of having the source code, the only way to test the effect of priorities would be to experiment. ---
**Author:** ![MMI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@MMI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MMI)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/86 "2004-08-20T15:23:40Z")
Ran it twice The first time I got: Non-Fiscal: Strong Liberal (17) Fiscal: Centrist (I forget) The second time, changing my answer for those questions for which there were two competitor, I got: On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (21). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (36). I think possibly the binary format of the political compass might have advantages - it is easier to pick between two incorrect answers than between four (assuming one doesn’t take the cop out) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![quelquechose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/6f9a4e/32.png) [@quelquechose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quelquechose)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/87 "2004-08-20T15:40:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Basically, if two posters took the test and answered the same choices to all of the questions, but poster A picks “high” priority for every choice, while poster b leaves the priority at “medium”. Would they get the same score? Choosing the first answer to all questions and setting priority at low gives (45,32), medium gives (45,32), and high gives (45,32). So it would seem that if priority is changed equally for all questions there is no effect on score. ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/88 "2004-08-20T15:51:55Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (19). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (34). Probably be more toward center if it weren’t for the S&L Fiasco, Iran/Contra, David Paul, Carl Icahn, and James Watt. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/89 "2004-08-20T16:01:15Z")
Good test, **Doors.** > [@](#): > > On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (15). > On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (35). No surprises there. The only question I had issues with was the one about health care / health insurance. I think I ended up checking “no opinion” just because all of the other answers were so thoroughly not reflective of mine. I don’t want to see my tax money supporting the overinflated drug prices and medical costs, I don’t want to see things “continue” as they are (which is all the worst aspects of free market with few of the advantages), etc. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/90 "2004-08-20T16:05:42Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > Actually, I kind of expected this result. A few solid right-wingers, a slightly larger group of far left-wingers, and a majority of people slightly left of center. > > That feels about right for this board. I’d say so too (although I think most of our “solid right-wingers” are farther to the extreme of the right than the “far left-wingers” are towards the left. I didn’t take the test myself, but judging from what I know of the positions of other posters who’ve reported their scores, I’m sure I’d rate as a moderate-to-strong liberal in both categories.) But if that’s so, then I wonder why some conservative posters frequently complain about this board being “so liberal”. If there are only a few more hardcore liberals than hardcore conservatives, then the imbalance is really pretty small, right? Do a bunch of slightly left-leaning centrists really make you feel so outnumbered? ---
**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:** [August 20, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/91 "2004-08-20T16:12:22Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Centrist (55). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Conservative (60) Interesting test. Pretty much what I though I was. As with SM’s thread series test there were some awkward questions that I really didn’t have an answer for…or I should say, I couldn’t answer without qualifiers. Of course the test doesn’t let you make qualifiers. 🙂 -XT ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/92 "2004-08-20T16:14:11Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (20). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Conservative (80). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/93 "2004-08-20T16:16:53Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > …I think most of our “solid right-wingers” are farther to the extreme of the right than the “far left-wingers” are towards the left… > [@](#): > > … I wonder why some conservative posters frequently complain about this board being “so liberal”. You just answered your own question. When you sittiing way out on either wing, even the centrists look like they’re far away from you. You have some strong leftish views, especially in the economic arena, and so you think the right wingers are WAY out there. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/94 "2004-08-20T16:24:18Z")
Non-fiscal: Strong Liberal (16) Fiscal: Centrist (44) I also found that I often didn’t like the options given. It wasn’t that I didn’t have an opinion, these were often areas where I have a fairly strong opinion. For example, on Social Security, I don’t mind privatisation, but I also would like to see the Republicans stop depleting the funds that are already there. ---
**Author:** ![TwoTrouts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@TwoTrouts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoTrouts)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/95 "2004-08-20T16:29:01Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (15). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (32). 'Bout right. And I seem to be getting more liberal with age. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/96 "2004-08-20T16:35:19Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (20). > On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Conservative (80). Now I don’t feel so all alone. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jon\_the\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Jon\_the\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jon_the_Geek)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/97 "2004-08-20T16:52:15Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (6). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (29). My non-fiscal score is slightly south of my Political Compass score, but I’ll believe it; I just wonder what puts me above 0 non-fiscally. The fiscal side is almost identical to my Political Compas score, so I guess I’ll believe it. I think I’m further right in practice than in theory, though (ie, I’d like things to be that far left fiscally, but don’t think going that far left works). I think. I took this a week or two ago, and didn’t re-read the questions just now, so I can’t remember specifics. Here in Austin I feel like a moderate, but that could be because there are people thrown to the left here to rebel against the conservativeness of the rest of Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Jon\_the\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Jon\_the\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jon_the_Geek)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/98 "2004-08-20T17:14:55Z")
Hmm, I tried to retake it, thinking more about practical implications, and came up with this: On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (7). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (28). I guess that’s about where I really fall on that test, then, since I went up 1 point in non-fiscal and down 1 point in fiscal. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/99 "2004-08-20T17:18:32Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > I thought I’d be on the left side of the spectrum for non-fiscal issues. I guess not wanting to ban all guns makes me a big time conservative. :rolleyes: Nope. I think the reason I got a 3 and not a 1 on non-fiscal issues is that I don’t want to ban all guns. **quelquechose** , you forgot someone :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/100 "2004-08-20T17:20:45Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (9). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (5). Puts me in the same corner as the Political Compass did. I’m guess I’m just going to have accept that I’m an anarcho-syndicalist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643.md?page=6)