# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/121 "2004-08-20T22:12:16Z")
Out of curiosity, I typed in everybody’s numbers (through mine above) and averaged them. **Non-fiscal:** 29.8 **Fiscal:** 45.9 I was going pretty fast, so I make no promises of perfect accuracy. Still interesting. ---
**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, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/122 "2004-08-20T22:15:03Z")
[quote=Kimstu] 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? [quote] > [@John Mace](#): > > 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. Hmmm. So the more conservative somebody is, the less seriously we should take their complaints about “liberal bias” (or vice versa), because they’re probably just mistaking the center for the opposite extreme? Sounds pretty reasonable. I shall take the liberty of quoting you to the next conservative who complains about liberal bias on this board or in the mainstream media. Anyway, 'scuse the hijack, all. ---
**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, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/123 "2004-08-20T23:14:24Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Hmmm. So the more conservative somebody is, the less seriously we should take their complaints about “liberal bias” (or vice versa), because they’re probably just mistaking the center for the opposite extreme? Nope. I was commenting on the irony of you posting: > [@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… and in the next breath saying you didn’t see why the right wingers on this board complain about an supposed left-wing bias here. We should take someone as seriously as his/her evidence warrents. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/124 "2004-08-21T02:56:19Z")
**JM** , I don’t think you fully grasp the _entirety_ of the irony in your exchange with **Kimstu** … [Stuart Smalley]and that’s… OK[/SS] In any case: On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (9). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (15). So take my insights on irony for whatever you think they’re worth… ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/125 "2004-08-21T03:24:20Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Note that it also said “leave it up to the states to decide”. Yeah, that’s true, and a good point. Personally, I’ve had trouble with that option. I’m all for increased state autonomy, but given the potential interstate “full faith and credit” issues, as well as the issues regarding immigration and taxation, I’m not sure a federal level of controversy is avoidable, alas. ---
**Author:** ![Leonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@Leonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leonard)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/126 "2004-08-21T03:27:39Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Centrist (45). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Conservative (85). Seems a little to the right of what I’d expect on both counts. I can see how I’d err to the right on fiscal, but not on non-fiscal. ---
**Author:** ![BytopianDream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@BytopianDream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BytopianDream)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/127 "2004-08-21T04:26:57Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal. On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Conservative. (I forgot to include the scores on my copy sorry.) Not a surprise there. Dang I wish radical moderates could get some political power. The closest we ever got was Ross Perot and Jesse “The Body and/or Mind” Ventura. There aren’t enough roll-eyes in existence for how I felt about their party. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/128 "2004-08-21T05:54:27Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (25). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Centrist (60). Pretty much what I expected. I never took the Compass though. ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/129 "2004-08-21T08:19:48Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, …a **Strong Liberal (19)** On Fiscal Issues, …a **Centrist (44).** The result for non fiscal is no surprise. My actual opinions on fiscal issues would probably be further left than that were I better versed in the specifics & ramifications (or if there had been an “abolish income tax altogether” option). IIRC, the Compass had me pegged moderately left on both dimensions. ---
**Author:** ![zoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71c47a/32.png) [@zoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/130 "2004-08-21T12:19:24Z")
Non-Fiscal 16 Fiscal 34 Very close to my Political Compass scores. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/131 "2004-08-21T13:09:35Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues…**Strong Liberal (18)**. On Fiscal Issues…**Strong Liberal (15)**. It’s going to be a nice day out, I’m gonna go hug some tree’s. Again. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/132 "2004-08-21T13:14:06Z")
The thing tells me that I am a Moderate Liberal on both counts, 21 and 26. That will come as a surprise to the guys at coffee who tell me that I am just a Closet Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/133 "2004-08-21T17:08:58Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > 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? Actually, after seeing more of the scores, I will have to say that I was wrong, This place really is populated by largely far lefties. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/134 "2004-08-21T18:29:32Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (33). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Conservative (92). ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/135 "2004-08-21T19:55:32Z")
Through **+MDI** ’s post #134, plus my scores (Moderate Liberal 28/39, which puts me in [relatively the same spot on the grid](http://www.amschwartz.net/jillandthomas/politicalleanings.html) as the Political Compass), there have been 100 respondents, whose results break down as follows: **On Non-Fiscal Issues** 45 Strong Liberals 28 Moderate Liberals 16 Centrists 7 Moderate Conservatives 4 Strong Conservatives **On Fiscal Issues** 19 Strong Liberals 32 Moderate Liberals 18 Centrists 17 Moderate Conservatives 14 Strong Conservatives There was one person who didn’t record their scores, so for the purposes of averaging, etc., there were only 99 respondents considered, resulting in the following: **On Non-Fiscal Issues** Mean Score: 29.10 Median Score: 22 Mode Score: 12 (with 7 respondents) **On Fiscal Issues** Mean Score: 45.17 Median Score: 39 Mode Score: 60 (with 7 respondents) My spreadsheet is [here](http://www.amschwartz.net/jillandthomas/SDMBPoliticalGuage2004-08-21.xls) ---
**Author:** ![meathead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@meathead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meathead)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/136 "2004-08-21T20:00:11Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Centrist (56). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Centrist (59). About what I had expected. ---
**Author:** ![Ryle\_Dup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Ryle\_Dup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryle_Dup)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/137 "2004-08-21T20:40:51Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a **Moderate Liberal (28).** On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a **Moderate Conservative (77).** Sign me up for the moderate ‘libcon’ club. I’d probably be more nonfiscally conservative if I didn’t feel so strongly about SoCaS, gay marriage, and abortion. I feel so torn. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/138 "2004-08-21T20:43:37Z")
> [@](#): > > On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (12). > On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (21). Not surprised at all. ---
**Author:** ![Live\_Better\_Electrically](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@Live\_Better\_Electrically](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Live_Better_Electrically)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/139 "2004-08-21T21:09:28Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (14). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (21). ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643/140 "2004-08-21T21:48:29Z")
On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Strong Liberal (19). On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Centrist (41). I seem to be discovering that I’m more liberal than I thought with both this and the Political Compass. I liked most of the choices, but it seemed like on some questions they weren’t mutually exclusive (like on the minimum wage question) and it would have been nice to choose more than one option. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-political-gauge-take-the-test-and-see-how-you-score/260643.md?page=8)