I have been participating in an ongoing comment thread at Harmless Sky on climate change. The thread began in late 2007 on the New Statesman website following an article by David Whitehouse wherein he discussed the fact that the Earth had stopped warming in 1998.
Lots of discussion and debate ensued on the comment thread, but eventually the New Statesman closed comments after an incredibly long and tolerant run. TonyN, a commenter on the thread, and publisher of Harmless Sky, generously offered to host the discussions at his blog, where it continues to rage every day.
In some recent exchanges, the Political Compass, a site for rating political orientation by answering questions, came up as a way of better understanding the perspectives of the thread contributors. I took the test, then posted my rankings. One of the other regular posters suggested that listing the questions and our answers for an even better perspective.
Here then, are both the questions and, in bold, my answers. You’ll have to go to the Political Compass to take the test yourself (and get your rankings). (My results are: Economic Left/Right: 4.25; Social libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.31, and are graphed
1. If economic globalization is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather than the interests of trans-national corporations.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
2. I'd always support my country, whether it was right or wrong.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
3. No one chooses his or her country of birth, so it's foolish to be proud of it.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
4. Our race has many superior qualities, compared with other races.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
5. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
6. Military action that defies international law is sometimes justified.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
7. There is now a worrying fusion of information and entertainment.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
10. People are ultimately divided more by class than by nationality.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
11. Controlling inflation is more important than controlling unemployment.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
12. Because corporations cannot be trusted to voluntarily protect the environment, they require regulation.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
13. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" is a fundamentally good idea.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
14. It's a sad reflection on our society that something as basic as drinking water is now a bottled, branded consumer product.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
16. It is regrettable that many personal fortunes are made by people who simply manipulate money and contribute nothing to their society.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
17. Protectionism is sometimes necessary in trade.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
18. The only social responsibility of a company should be to deliver a profit to its shareholders.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
19. The rich are too highly taxed.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
20. Those with the ability to pay should have the right to higher standards of medical care.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
21. Governments should penalize businesses that mislead the public.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
22. A genuine free market requires restrictions on the ability of predator multinationals to create monopolies.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
23. The freer the market, the freer the people.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
24. Abortion, when the woman's life is not threatened, should always be illegal.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
25. All authority should be questioned.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
26. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
27. Taxpayers should not be expected to prop up any theatres or museums that cannot survive on a commercial basis.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
28. Schools should not make classroom attendance compulsory.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
29. All people have their rights, but it is better for all of us that different sorts of people should keep to their own kind.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
30. Good parents sometimes have to spank their children.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
31. It's natural for children to keep some secrets from their parents.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
32. Possessing marijuana for personal use should not be a criminal offence.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
33. The prime function of schooling should be to equip the future generation to find jobs.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
34. People with serious inheritable disabilities should not be allowed to reproduce.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
35. The most important thing for children to learn is to accept discipline.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
36. There are no savage and civilized peoples; there are only different cultures.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
37. Those who are able to work, and refuse the opportunity, should not expect society's support.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
38. When you are troubled, it's better not to think about it, but to keep busy with more cheerful things.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
39. First-generation immigrants can never be fully integrated within their new country.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
40. What's good for the most successful corporations is always, ultimately, good for all of us.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
41. No broadcasting institution, however independent its content, should receive public funding.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
42. Our civil liberties are being excessively curbed in the name of counter-terrorism.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
43. A significant advantage of a one-party state is that it avoids all the arguments that delay progress in a democratic political system.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
44. Although the electronic age makes official surveillance easier, only wrongdoers need to be worried.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
45. The death penalty should be an option for the most serious crimes.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
46. In a civilized society, one must always have people above to be obeyed and people below to be commanded.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
47. Abstract art that doesn't represent anything shouldn't be considered art at all.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
48. In criminal justice, punishment should be more important than rehabilitation.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
49. It is a waste of time to try to rehabilitate some criminals.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
50. The businessperson and the manufacturer are more important than the writer and the artist.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
51. Mothers may have careers, but their first duty is to be homemakers.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
52. Multinational companies are unethically exploiting the plant genetic resources of developing countries.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
53. Making peace with the establishment is an important aspect of maturity.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
54. Astrology accurately explains many things.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
55. You cannot be moral without being religious.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
56. Charity is better than social security as a means of helping the genuinely disadvantaged.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
57. Some people are naturally unlucky.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
58. It is important that my child's school instills religious values.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
59. Sex outside marriage is usually immoral.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
60. A same sex couple in a stable, loving relationship should not be excluded from the possibility of child adoption.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
61. Pornography, depicting consenting adults, should be legal for the adult population.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
62. What goes on in a private bedroom between consenting adults is no business of the state.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
63. No one can feel naturally homosexual.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
64. These days openness about sex has gone too far.
a) Strongly Disagree
b) Disagree
c) Agree
d) Strongly Agree
