Political Quiz - Where do you fall?

[derspiess]

So what are your results, Beeb? 

85% Republican was highest, forgot the rest.

Good enough

[HVC]

[Ideologue]

So far I'm the most Socialist. But then Ide hasn't posted yet.

I was:

84% Dem
75% Green
71% Amsoc
53% Republican
10% Libertarian

I didn't find a lot of the stock questions to accurately represent my views and was unsure how the "add your own view" feature worked.  There was no option to execute banking criminals, for example, nor my actual immigration views, which are "citizenship for everyone here, treat all subsequent unlawful visitors as combatants," so I had to keep choosing the "deport everyone, including third-generation immigrants" Nazi options.  And there wasn't a single instance of the word "nationalize" anywhere.  And no questions about student loans at all.

Foreign policy probably. Although it may be something more surprising.

Foreign policy and immigration definitely moved me to the right, even though my views are technically hard left, only without all the touchy-feely surface crap.

[garbon]

So hard left but you don't actually care about how people feel?

[Ideologue]

Recognizing that utility maximization sometimes means being harsh and domineering.

[garbon]

Is there an end goal to this utility maximization if it isn't happiness?

[Ideologue]

Utility maximization for the people in aggregate does not necessarily mean utility maximization for every individual.  In fact, given human nature, such seems very unlikely, and is probably impossible.

And being soft-hearted and empathetic doesn't ultimately impact aggregate utility that much.  If we started executing child molesters, rapists, and murderers, I expect the 50 million or so crybabies aghast at the slaughter due to their inability to perform rudimentary moral calculus could and would nonetheless go on to live as happily as they would have otherwise.  The impact upon their existence is almost negligible (and probably positive, though they may wish not to admit it).  Meanwhile, the overlapping set of (say) 50 million possible victims over the next decade--their victimizers deterred by the starkness of the punishment and near-certainty of detection thanks to my awesome regime--get a lot more utility out of life.

It's arguable even the potential victimizers' utility is increased, since the alternative is execution; but we may permit an accounting that records their utility from being unable to rape and murder as minimally decreased.  The world will no doubt keep turning.

And, of course, those dead people's utility is null, thanks both to removing themselves from the calculation by their actions, and by virtue of being non-existent.  Null from any number, of course, equals that selfsame number.

Of course, there is a certain hard-heartedness to this.

[garbon]

But I'm not sure it's true that you would raise the level of happiness in aggregate.

[Ideologue]

Me personally?  I'd be the best dictator the 20th century's ever seen.

[Neil]

*reports to moderator*

Where's Neil, and what have you done with him? 

I think it's shocking how far the Republicans have fallen.  I came out heavily in favour of the drone-based assassination of terrorists, against gay marriage and making welfare people work.  I guess gun control, believing in climate change, public health care and gutting the USAF counted for more.

[citizen k]

[Barrister]

So what are your results, Beeb? 

85% Republican was highest, forgot the rest.

Good enough

Just for you, I re-took the test, and answered every additional question asked:



Not surprised in the least I wound up republican, but surprised how low every other party wound up.

[katmai]

Katmai disgusts me

I still can't quit you

[Savonarola]

Some of the "Other" options amused me:

Should able-bodied, mentally capable adults who receive welfare be required to work?

No, "workfare" is a form of slave labor

The Civilian Conservation Corps; America's darkest chapter.   

[Grey Fox]

I don't know what to say.