Political views

**Equinox** · 01-25-2012, 06:52 AM

I've been thinking about doing this for a while to confirm a hypothesis, and now I've decided to actually go and do it. How would you classify yourself politically? I'm pretty sure I know how this is going to turn out, but I want to make sure I'm right.

Also, no need whatsoever to explain your beliefs by posting in this thread. All I care about are the numbers. In fact, it'll probably just be counterproductive if we get into political debates, so I kind of hope nobody does post...

**themuzicman** · 01-25-2012, 06:56 AM

I went slightly conservative because I do have some disagreements with what I consider to be solidly conservative, but in reality I'm probably more between slightly and conservative.

**INTelliJent** · 01-25-2012, 06:57 AM

Guess everyone who doesn't fall neatly along American political party lines is just left out.

**CreepyCrawly** · 01-25-2012, 07:03 AM

Depends on how you look at it, so I'm not gonna vote quite yet.

Ideally, I think some form of either communism or socialism - i.e extremely liberal - is the best ideology to follow, in a perfect world. The catch? It's ideal. Idealism. Practically unachievable. For whatever reason, most people's apparent greed and evident idiocy veils their vision of the future, and they don't plan for very long ahead, or for anyone else than themselves. As such, "planned economy" doesn't click too well with them; not just because of the word "planned," but because they honestly can't see its benefits.

That said, I'm not saying everyone who doesn't support very liberal views are lowbrow morons. I've talked to a fair share of intelligent "conservatives," I just don't approve of their ideal every-man-for-himself economy.

Anyway, continuing from the first section of my post - if I were a politician, I would not have my head in the clouds. I would rather pursue some ideology similar to the one Norway currently uses, albeit taxing the rich even further (and more efficiently) and taking measures to "untangle" the bureaucracy.

**INTelliJent** · 01-25-2012, 07:12 AM

I find it amusing when economics is discussed in terms of "ideals". Idealistically pure Socialism/Communism couldn't work economically (in regards to wealth generation/raising living standards) even if no one were greedy.

The idea that one person or small group can plan an economy to accommodate everyone equally is equally ludicrous. For that to be even remotely possible, the economy would be so restricted people would shortly starve or move.

As stated elsewhere, if you run an economy like Norway, you better have adequate natural resources to sell off to fund your deficits.

**deconspire** · 01-25-2012, 07:14 AM

I voted moderate because I'm socially liberal and fiscally conservative (in general), and I suppose that reflects my political ambivalence.

I'm actually really interested in this poll. Hope more people vote.

---------- Post added 01-25-2012 at 10:16 AM ----------

	Originally Posted by Equinox To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	In fact, it'll probably just be counterproductive if we get into political debates, so I kind of hope nobody does post...

He's right, c'mon now dudes, there are plenty of threads to talk politics in...

**CreepyCrawly** · 01-25-2012, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by INTelliJent
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I find it amusing when economics is discussed in terms of "ideals". Idealistically pure Socialism/Communism couldn't work economically (in regards to wealth generation/raising living standards) even if no one were greedy.

The idea that one person or small group can plan an economy to accommodate everyone equally is equally ludicrous. For that to be even remotely possible, the economy would be so restricted people would shortly starve or move.

Essentially my point. Or part of it.

	Originally Posted by INTelliJent To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	As stated elsewhere, if you run an economy like Norway, you better have adequate natural resources to sell off to fund your deficits.

Indeed. I'm Norwegian, which is why I based my point on that.

My problem with economics is that it's impossible to make an acceptable compromise between idealism and function.

	Originally Posted by deaconspire To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	He's right, c'mon now dudes, there are plenty of threads to talk politics in...

I just wanted Equinox to tell me what my views are, as defined by this poll!

**mhy** · 01-25-2012, 07:20 AM

Conservative.

**Polymath20** · 01-25-2012, 07:20 AM

There are at least two distinct spectra to measure and this is only measuring one of them.

1) Liberal vs Conservative
2) Totalitarian vs Libertarian

Even within the 4 quadrants that these two spectra make, there is room for variation.

Totalitarianism, whether it's conservative or liberal, is the ideology of a big, powerful, all-inclusive government where essentially everyone is a government employee. Big Red Communism was a sort of liberal totalitarianism. Iran today is an example of socially conservative totalitarianism.

I think New Zealand is an example of a more socially liberal libertarian state, though most modern nations are not nearly as libertarian as countries were 200 years ago.

**INTelliJent** · 01-25-2012, 07:25 AM

	Originally Posted by CreepyCrawly To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Essentially my point. Or part of it.

That's not what you said though. Your post implied benefit in a centrally planned economy if only people were smarter/less greedy/thought long term/etc.

	Originally Posted by CreepyCrawly To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	For whatever reason, most people's apparent greed and evident idiocy veils their vision of the future, and they don't plan for very long ahead, or for anyone else than themselves. As such, "planned economy" doesn't click too well with them; not just because of the word "planned," but because they honestly can't see its benefits.

What potential benefits? I am asserting that there are none. A vibrant economy is much to nuanced and complex to be centrally planned.

	Originally Posted by CreepyCrawly To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Indeed. I'm Norwegian, which is why I based my point on that. My problem with economics is that it's impossible to make an acceptable compromise between idealism and function.

Only if your ideal is completely disfunctional, even in a "perfect world".

	Originally Posted by CreepyCrawly To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I just wanted Equinox to tell me what my views are, as defined by this poll!

My views aren't on his poll. He left out "Doesn't believe in trying to control others".

**Ghostwheel** · 01-25-2012, 07:33 AM

I prefer the
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rather than the two-point axis.

Instead of just one sliding scale from "liberal" (whatever that means) to "conservative" (whatever that means), you have an economic axis that goes from left (socialism) to right (capitalism), and a social axis that goes from authoritarian to libertarian.

**Warrior** · 01-25-2012, 11:15 AM

I chose extremely conservative.

**Alanas** · 01-25-2012, 01:29 PM

Where are other options? For example "socialdemocrat", "nationalist", "libertarian", "communist"/"socialist"? This poll seems waaaay too simplified.

	Originally Posted by INTelliJent To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	As stated elsewhere, if you run an economy like Norway, you better have adequate natural resources to sell off to fund your deficits.

Well, Norway has had a lot of budget surpluses for many many years... Besides, Finland or Sweden also are similar economies to Norway, but they don't have the oil. Although Finland and Sweden also have some deficits, they are doing quite well, even better than some other countries with much less social welfare (ahem, United States, for example?).

**Sumwun** · 01-25-2012, 01:47 PM

I can't really fit in with either.

I'm more for a free market with minimal (but still present) regulation. Also, moderatism works best.

**dungeonguy88** · 01-25-2012, 01:48 PM

I know that the OP had their own hypothesis that they expected to have confirmed, but everyone posting how they all felt that the poll was not nuanced or inclusive enough...totally supported my hypothesis going into this.

**Distance** · 01-25-2012, 01:52 PM

Moderate, leaning mildly libertarian fiscally and liberally, socially. This leads to a clash of compassion vs. pragmatism so my preference is to address issues individually, rather than apply broad swath ideology. If anything, extremist ideology or idealogues of any kind give me hives.

**thod** · 01-25-2012, 02:05 PM

It depends on your country. I am regarded as a right-wing conservative where I am, yet as a liberal in the US.

**Alanas** · 01-25-2012, 02:06 PM

Where are you from, thod?

**Pandemonium** · 01-25-2012, 02:09 PM

Where is the libertarian category?

**thod** · 01-25-2012, 02:09 PM

I am in France. Our mayor is a member of the communist party and the 80% of the regional council is the PS (socialist party).

thebrainpolice · 01-25-2012, 02:11 PM

We've actually had several other threads on member's political views elsewhere on the forum. For those who are unhappy with the choices in this poll, feel free to vote
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or
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. (I know there's a rule against necro posting, but I doubt there's one against necro voting.)

**Sprelious** · 01-25-2012, 02:13 PM

There isn't a party that defines my views, but I'm fairly certain that if you look all the way to the left there's someone that might be able to see me with a very powerful telescope.

**INTelliJent** · 01-25-2012, 02:22 PM

	Originally Posted by thod To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I am in France. Our mayor is a member of the communist party and the 80% of the regional council is the PS (socialist party).

Why am I not surprised. So how do you feel about France's leading role in raping Libya?

**DeaconSyre** · 01-25-2012, 02:25 PM

	Originally Posted by Equinox To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	All I care about are the numbers.

Just make sure you remember that this poll is voluntary and taking place in a sub-section of INTJf; what you learn here may not be true over in the Psych sub-forum.

**thod** · 01-25-2012, 02:29 PM


	Why am I not surprised. So how do you feel about France's leading role in raping Libya?

That would be off-topic.

View Poll Results: What are you politically?
Extremely liberal	9	10.98%
Liberal	15	18.29%
Slightly liberal	11	13.41%
Moderate	17	20.73%
Slightly Conservative	18	21.95%
Conservative	6	7.32%
Extremely conservative	6	7.32%
Voters: 82. You may not vote on this poll

01-25-2012, 06:52 AM	#1
Equinox Veteran Member [63%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 2,537	I've been thinking about doing this for a while to confirm a hypothesis, and now I've decided to actually go and do it. How would you classify yourself politically? I'm pretty sure I know how this is going to turn out, but I want to make sure I'm right. Also, no need whatsoever to explain your beliefs by posting in this thread. All I care about are the numbers. In fact, it'll probably just be counterproductive if we get into political debates, so I kind of hope nobody does post...
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01-25-2012, 06:56 AM	#2
themuzicman Core Member [283%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,350	I went slightly conservative because I do have some disagreements with what I consider to be solidly conservative, but in reality I'm probably more between slightly and conservative.
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01-25-2012, 06:57 AM	#3
INTelliJent Veteran Member [87%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,493	Guess everyone who doesn't fall neatly along American political party lines is just left out.
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01-25-2012, 07:03 AM	#4
CreepyCrawly Member [06%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 279	Depends on how you look at it, so I'm not gonna vote quite yet. Ideally, I think some form of either communism or socialism - i.e extremely liberal - is the best ideology to follow, in a perfect world. The catch? It's ideal. Idealism. Practically unachievable. For whatever reason, most people's apparent greed and evident idiocy veils their vision of the future, and they don't plan for very long ahead, or for anyone else than themselves. As such, "planned economy" doesn't click too well with them; not just because of the word "planned," but because they honestly can't see its benefits. That said, I'm not saying everyone who doesn't support very liberal views are lowbrow morons. I've talked to a fair share of intelligent "conservatives," I just don't approve of their ideal every-man-for-himself economy. Anyway, continuing from the first section of my post - if I were a politician, I would not have my head in the clouds. I would rather pursue some ideology similar to the one Norway currently uses, albeit taxing the rich even further (and more efficiently) and taking measures to "untangle" the bureaucracy.
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01-25-2012, 07:12 AM	#5
INTelliJent Veteran Member [87%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,493	I find it amusing when economics is discussed in terms of "ideals". Idealistically pure Socialism/Communism couldn't work economically (in regards to wealth generation/raising living standards) even if no one were greedy. The idea that one person or small group can plan an economy to accommodate everyone equally is equally ludicrous. For that to be even remotely possible, the economy would be so restricted people would shortly starve or move. As stated elsewhere, if you run an economy like Norway, you better have adequate natural resources to sell off to fund your deficits.
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01-25-2012, 07:20 AM	#8
mhy Member [05%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 226	Conservative.
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01-25-2012, 07:20 AM	#9
Polymath20 Core Member [410%] MBTI: ENTP Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 16,430	There are at least two distinct spectra to measure and this is only measuring one of them. 1) Liberal vs Conservative 2) Totalitarian vs Libertarian Even within the 4 quadrants that these two spectra make, there is room for variation. Totalitarianism, whether it's conservative or liberal, is the ideology of a big, powerful, all-inclusive government where essentially everyone is a government employee. Big Red Communism was a sort of liberal totalitarianism. Iran today is an example of socially conservative totalitarianism. I think New Zealand is an example of a more socially liberal libertarian state, though most modern nations are not nearly as libertarian as countries were 200 years ago.
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01-25-2012, 07:33 AM	#11
Ghostwheel Member [34%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,367	I prefer the To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. rather than the two-point axis. Instead of just one sliding scale from "liberal" (whatever that means) to "conservative" (whatever that means), you have an economic axis that goes from left (socialism) to right (capitalism), and a social axis that goes from authoritarian to libertarian.
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01-25-2012, 11:15 AM	#12
Warrior Core Member [227%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,083	I chose extremely conservative.
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01-25-2012, 01:47 PM	#14
Sumwun Member [24%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 971	I can't really fit in with either. I'm more for a free market with minimal (but still present) regulation. Also, moderatism works best.
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01-25-2012, 01:48 PM	#15
dungeonguy88 Member [48%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,937	I know that the OP had their own hypothesis that they expected to have confirmed, but everyone posting how they all felt that the poll was not nuanced or inclusive enough...totally supported my hypothesis going into this.
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01-25-2012, 01:52 PM	#16
Distance Core Member [410%] MBTI: eNTj Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 16,405	Moderate, leaning mildly libertarian fiscally and liberally, socially. This leads to a clash of compassion vs. pragmatism so my preference is to address issues individually, rather than apply broad swath ideology. If anything, extremist ideology or idealogues of any kind give me hives.
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01-25-2012, 02:05 PM	#17
thod Core Member [162%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6,492	It depends on your country. I am regarded as a right-wing conservative where I am, yet as a liberal in the US.
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01-25-2012, 02:06 PM	#18
Alanas Member [17%] MBTI: INTj Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 719	Where are you from, thod?
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01-25-2012, 02:09 PM	#19
Pandemonium Veteran Member [53%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,120	Where is the libertarian category?
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01-25-2012, 02:11 PM	#21
thebrainpolice Core Member [211%] MBTI: ISTJ Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 8,447	We've actually had several other threads on member's political views elsewhere on the forum. For those who are unhappy with the choices in this poll, feel free to vote To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. or To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. . (I know there's a rule against necro posting, but I doubt there's one against necro voting.)
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01-25-2012, 02:13 PM	#22
Sprelious Core Member [601%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 24,041	There isn't a party that defines my views, but I'm fairly certain that if you look all the way to the left there's someone that might be able to see me with a very powerful telescope.
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