Info Your political lean, and why

[Medeia]

I have always wondered what the general political lean is on anand, feel free to post short responses; or flushed out ideals! Anything goes, though I want to have one rule in the thread. No responding to other people, or quoting other people for any reason. I'm not in to debate, just share your lean and we can all be happy

 

[ivwshane]

In this current political climate I'd be considered a far left lefty.

In actuality I'm left of center but I'll support any policy that's good for, the country as a whole, the average person, a minority group, small businesses, and corporations. In that order, so long as the policy doesn't hurt the group before it. For example, a policy that is good for corporations but can have adverse affects on a minority group (not to be confused with race), I wouldn't support.

I support policies and legislation that are based on facts, science, and or real world data and if none of that is available to support a policy or a piece of legislation then I will support it if it has some sort of benchmark and sunset provision in it.

I don't believe in small or big government but rather in an efficient government.

I'm OK with compromise and understand that the founding fathers setup our government to be slow moving and that change and good policy/legislation can take awhile to get right and to achieve its desired goals.

I believe the purpose of government is to ensure the general welfare of the people and the country. General welfare of the people, to me, means creating an environment in which the pursuit of happiness is achievable and allows for equal opportunity. The general welfare of the country, to me, means that law makers should support policies that make our democracy stronger and ensure that our future as a democratic nation is strong.

 

[Indus]

I'm on whatever side that promotes equality, and health care. Those 2 things hit home for me.

And I happen to side with the side that fights constant lying, stupidity, power grabs against the will of voters.

So take a guess.

Apparently I'm here:

 

[Moonbeam]

I have always wondered what the general political lean is on anand, feel free to post short responses; or flushed out ideals! Anything goes, though I want to have one rule in the thread. No responding to other people, or quoting other people for any reason. I'm not in to debate, just share your lean and we can all be happy

So you want to know the general political lean on AnandTech. Why? Are you doing a data study for the CIA or Putin? Are you trying to decide if it's safe, that you will have a majority at your back, before risking opening your mouth?

Are you unable to think for yourself or don't trust in your own judgment to answer your own question? Why would you think I can figure out my political leanings better than you can? I think there are a lot of people here who think they are one thing and in reality are something completely different than that. You, for example, may have begun to suspect that I may fancy myself as some sort of contrarian thinker when in reality I'm just some sort of an asshole instead.

I'd love to help you out, but I have a bigger desire to know why you ask. I mean, you already turned this into a debate, not realizing that one rule is way way too many for an anarchist like me.

 

[feralkid]

Robot Party.

Kill all Humans; it's the only way to be sure.

 

[soulcougher73]

Socially liberal, fiscally conservative. Parts of the libertarian party resonate with me. Parts of a Bernie Sanders Democratic Socialist resonate with me. I'm an atheist so the GOP does not resonate with me at all.

Edit: Since you asked why? Id rather the government be efficient with its spending. Spend more in some places, spend less in others. I believe everyone should be free to choose how they want to live as long as their freedoms do not in anyway impact another persons freedoms. General example. I believe you should be free to smoke. I wouldnt ban smoking. But your freedom to smoke does not trump my freedom to breathe fresh air. So you have to smoke away from others who do not want to smell it.


You are a left moderate social libertarian.
Left: 6.44, Libertarian: 2.36

 

[fskimospy]

I am socially very liberal. I don't think fiscal liberalism/conservatism means much anymore as frankly I can't figure out what fiscal theory the right even stands for anymore that isn't just disguised partisanship. (they wanted budget cuts and tight money back in 2009 during a catastrophic recession and want deficit spending and loose money now during an expansion)

I guess broadly speaking I want less social regulation and more economic regulation. (generally)

 

[woolfe9998]

 

[cytg111]

left ... very left ... basic income kind of left.
Socialist state with a capitalistic market, strong military and strong and ever growing alliances, alliances with open borders to countries that share our ideas and ideals towards democracy and personal freedom. Strong military. A united planet. Getting population numbers under control. Sustainability. Colonize Mars. Onwards from there.
And I firmly believe that we will never get to the last part if we dont get the first part right. If we dont get the first part right, then that means that life on this planet was a blip in the cosmos of everything. I am not working my ass off so these apes never get off this rock? It will all have been for naught!
- Ok op, you got a little more than you asked for, sorry.

 

[Moonbeam]

View attachment 2104

Very conservative. I want woolfe off my land

 

[woolfe9998]

Very conservative. I want woolfe off my land

Yeah, oddly, I have taken a different quiz which uses the same measuring spectrum but with different questions and I usually come out 1 or 2 boxes left of that one, and 1 or 2 boxes downward toward libertarian as well. It really depends on the questions asked. The healthcare question on this one was, is healthcare a "right?" I don't like that terminology so I said "disagree." But if the question asked is, do I want a government run single payer healthcare system, I would have said "agree." Also, I said "agree" that government has a role in legislating morality because if they didn't, we wouldn't have a basic criminal code. I hardly think not being an anarchist makes me more authoritarian but that's how this quiz works.

 

[fskimospy]

Yeah, oddly, I have taken a different quiz which uses the same measuring spectrum but with different questions and I usually come out 1 or 2 boxes left of that one, and 1 or 2 boxes downward toward libertarian as well. It really depends on the questions asked. The healthcare question on this one was, is healthcare a "right?" I don't like that terminology so I said "disagree." But if the question asked is, do I want a government run single payer healthcare system, I would have said "agree." Also, I said "agree" that government has a role in legislating morality because if they didn't, we wouldn't have a basic criminal code. I hardly think not being an anarchist makes me more authoritarian but that's how this quiz works.

I think you can make a pretty good case for a criminal code based on utility and not morality. Murder should be outlawed because a society where people could walk around killing at will wouldn’t function, for example.

I get if you reduce things far enough maybe it’s a moral thing (ie: why is being alive better than being dead) but I think of one assumes being alive and having your basic needs met is ‘good’ a utilitarian criminal code is not just feasible but preferable.

 

[Ajay]

Left social moderate. Fiscally on the conservative responsible side. Independent voter, would be a dem except I’m pro-life. Usually vote left. Think the wealthy and corporations have almost all the power in Washington and believe our democracy will fail if we don’t change that. In favor of universal healthcare for all Americans.

Edit: apparently using the word ‘conservative ' triggers a certain perception that doesn’t match my mindset.

 

[Blackjack200]

My views are to the left of Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders, I believe they are the farthest left house rep and senator, so in the U.S. I guess I would be a political extremist by the standards of the elected legislators. Not sure how that stacks up against the general population though.

 

[fskimospy]

My views are to the left of Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders, I believe they are the farthest left house rep and senator, so in the U.S. I guess I would be a political extremist by the standards of the elected legislators. Not sure how that stacks up against the general population though.

The legislature of the US is dramatically to the right of the average citizen both because of inherent aspects of our system and the undue influence of rich people. You’re clearly on the left but you’re probably not some extremist.

 

[Blackjack200]

The legislature of the US is dramatically to the right of the average citizen both because of inherent aspects of our system and the undue influence of rich people. You’re clearly on the left but you’re probably not some extremist.

What do you mean by inherent aspects of our system?

 

[Moonbeam]

I think you can make a pretty good case for a criminal code based on utility and not morality. Murder should be outlawed because a society where people could walk around killing at will wouldn’t function, for example.

I get if you reduce things far enough maybe it’s a moral thing (ie: why is being alive better than being dead) but I think of one assumes being alive and having your basic needs met is ‘good’ a utilitarian criminal code is not just feasible but preferable.

I think if you can make a good case for a utilitarian morality you can make a pretty good case for why the radical left would lead to the death of millions.

 

[Moonbeam]

Yeah, oddly, I have taken a different quiz which uses the same measuring spectrum but with different questions and I usually come out 1 or 2 boxes left of that one, and 1 or 2 boxes downward toward libertarian as well. It really depends on the questions asked. The healthcare question on this one was, is healthcare a "right?" I don't like that terminology so I said "disagree." But if the question asked is, do I want a government run single payer healthcare system, I would have said "agree." Also, I said "agree" that government has a role in legislating morality because if they didn't, we wouldn't have a basic criminal code. I hardly think not being an anarchist makes me more authoritarian but that's how this quiz works.

I can never get anything right on tests because, while I may be able to figure out the implications and what the testers think a yes or no answer might mean, I have this hideous need to always be as honest as I can and that often means I simply will not answer a question because I can see situations where it would be better to answer one way but differently in another and none of that is specified in the question.

 

[Blackjack200]

I think if you can make a good case for a utilitarian morality you can make a pretty good case for why the radical left would lead to the death of millions.

In shāʾa llāh

 

[UglyCasanova]

I did the quiz and here’s where it says I am

You are a centrist social libertarian.
Left: 0.44, Libertarian: 4.7

 

[Jaskalas]

I would self describe as a progressive, and I'd call Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders a good start.
I am also a Capitalist who believes that Capitalism needs a fix to ensure it can survive.

That fix comes in the way of a vibrant social safety net, aka the dirty "feeding the poor" thing that neanderthals call Socialism. I know... how dare I!? Well I do dare to dream big, why else have dreams, or aspirations? If they aren't aimed towards actual solutions, towards meaningful changes that WILL help people?

Capitalism needs a balance between Private and Public equity. So I say... split it right down the middle, 50 / 50. Yes, that means a 50% tax rate. Heck, make it a Constitutional amendment, that no taxation may rise above that amount except under time of dire, existential crisis. But for cripes sake, do not shy away from something that would actually work, or the funds necessary to secure that objective.

For such a lofty price tag, we would secure:

1. Basic Income of $1,000/mo per person, featuring a nest egg of $216,000 upon turning 18.
2. Federal Housing Loan Program. Tied to UBI, your home payment is automatic. No foreclosure or payment based eviction, ever again.
3. Medicare for All. A complex expansion of Medicare with the ultimate goal of complete coverage and ZERO bankruptcies from health care.

I won't spend the first post discussing how or why, but rest assured that this is my aspiration. Fully realized economic and social security for our people. That would place me further "left" than anyone I know, though there was that one guy who pretty much called for an end to private "everything"... but I digress. What I want is for America to step forward to bring Capitalism into the 21st century. Automation is going to force us to evolve, and to adapt. We'd be pretty !@#$y humans if we didn't step up and make the changes our new economic and social environment demands.

A nation of poverty and destitution is just one stagnant generation away. We need to grow, to learn, and to do better.

 

[UglyCasanova]

I disagree with a lot of that but welcome an obviously thought out post and honest reply. For this when you say equity what do you mean, ownership of he means of production or something different?

Capitalism needs a balance between Private and Public equity.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I have read the gamut of treatises on politics and economics -- books on libertarianism, Marx, Adam Smith -- you name it. I concluded that ideologies are like toolboxes; that no single book contains the entirety of the Truth; that common-sense is the main imperative and blind adherence to an ideology departs from common-sense as a lazy man's solution to thinking and reading.

In my callow youth after college, I had some very simplistic ideas about these political choices, and actually chose the GOP, thinking that they championed "free market competition." Then I discovered that the GOP was less interested in "perfect competition," drew its biggest supporters from concentrated industries, and had been co-opted by Big Oil, possibly Big Defense and interests that lean against the public well-being.

After that, I was watching the campaigns and elected officials over the past two decades, verifying the Liars and the Lies through my own investigation. Around 2004, I changed my voter registration to "Democrat," because there were no other feasible choices for my alignment which had any chance of winning major elections.

And I've long since come to realize that one very often doesn't have a smorgasbord of choice about anything. If a Dirty Asshole-Sandwich ran against Trump, I'd merely swallow my frustration and vote for the Dirty Asshole Sandwich.

I have realistic expectations, you see . . .

 

[Jaskalas]

I disagree with a lot of that but welcome an obviously thought out post and honest reply. For this when you say equity what do you mean, ownership of he means of production or something different?

The description that followed was fairly accurate. Just a fancy term for money.
Note the intended uses for those funds, they wouldn't necessarily be involved in controlling any production, so much as ensuring a healthy place in our economy for all our consumers.

 

[Indus]

link to compass?