Elonka wrote:
] ] After you've responded to the following propositions during
] the
] ] next 3-5 minutes, all will be explained. In each instance,
] ] you're asked to choose the response that best describes your
]
] ] feeling: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Agree or Strongly
] Agree.
] ] At the end of the test, you'll be given the compass, with
] your
] ] own special position on it.
]
] I rate this one up there with ontheissues.org, as one of the
] most thorough political viewpoint quiz sites available.
]
] In terms of calculations, it rated me as more
] liberal/libertarian than I think I am (especially in
] comparison to most of the members of Memestreams *grin*), but
] I still found the questions interesting.

Hrm. I think I've taken this one before. My impression of this test is that the questions seem biased left, although I don't disagree with the outcome I got.

For example, I think only someone on the left would ask these questions this way:

If economic globalisation is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather than the interests of trans-national corporations. (Someone on the right would not see this as a dichotomy.)

Controlling inflation is more important than controlling unemployment. (Again, only the left sees this as a dichotomy.)

From each according to his ability, to each according to his need is a fundamentally good idea. (Ding.)

Those with the ability to pay should have the right to higher standards of medical care. (Lets restate this as "People shouldn't be denied higher standards of medical care when they can afford it, because the government feels like their condition isn't serious enough to warrant special treatment.")

What's good for the most successful corporations is always, ultimately, good for all of us. (Always??)

Some questions are things the overwhelming majority of the population would agree about. One wonders how they are scored:
No one chooses their country of birth, so it's foolish to be proud of it.
Our race has many superior qualities, compared to other races.
Land shouldn't be a commodity to be bought and sold.

Some don't seem to have anything at all to do with the subject at hand:
Abstract art that doesn't represent anything shouldn't be considered art at all.
When you are troubled, it's better not to think about it, but to keep busy with more cheerful things.

What is most troubling is that they don't have a way to refuse a question, based on the assumption that there are no good reasons for being agnostic about an issue.

They address some of the points I raise in their FAQ, but not satisfactorily. I simply cannot answer the first question. I think its disingenuous. Thats different from saying that I disagree with it.

RE: The Political Compass