I have a page on this blog showing my results from a number of political spectrum style quizzes. I was going to update it with this one from Pew Research, the only research foundation named after the sound of a laser gun, but after around 5 questions realized it probably wouldn’t be worth my while filling out the other 15. But it’s a lazy Tuesday with nowhere to go, so I did. My results are below, but first, I want to talk about the quiz itself. The basic flaw of the whole quiz (or, rather, a survey- but it does attempt to give you a place on a spectrum of sorts at the end, and so in effect is a political spectrum quiz) is that it reduces complex political issues into two black or white statements, each of which clearly are supposed to represent the American conventional two sided approach to politics. The most egregious few are below.
3. The government should do more to help needy Americans, even if it means going deeper into debt vs The government today can’t afford to do much more to help the needy
Not an either or. An alternative, and more effective method to aiding the needy would be to abolish those government maintained privileges that ensure a gradual distribution of wealth upwards. At most, a welfare state is a concession that allows the continued distribution to remain manageable.
4. Religion is a very important part of my life vs Religion is not that important to me
Are we to genuinely believe that this question has any real effect on one’s political stance? Sure, this quiz is heavily American, and according to stereotype the Republicans are Christian nut jobs and the Democrats Godless Atheist heathens. But if you’re trying to make a serious political quiz, does this question really have any use at all? This is just one of a few questions that suggests the quiz wants to extrapolate information about your political views from much more personal information- another one asks if you are happy with your financial situation or not. What the crap, guys?
10. Business corporations make too much profit vs Most corporations make a fair and reasonable amount of profit
Much criticism of big business is made purely on the basis of how much money they are making. Less is made of how they make money. Ultimately, it’s futile to purely think in terms of the former. There is no such thing as “too much” profit; only an open market can determine at any given time how much a certain good or value is worth. There are just immoral ways of making profit. And of course, the main beneficiaries of these immoral methods are the biggest business corporations. The question as it is framed fails to get down to any real issue, preferring instead to concentrate on a popular but meaningless talking point.
15. Government regulation of business is necessary to protect the public interest vs Government regulation of business usually does more harm than good
This presupposes the old “nasty old businessmen” vs “honest caring politicians” line, as well as a lot about the aims of regulation (not to mention its real effects, intentions aside). The answer in red is undoubtedly true; but not in the way most people would expect it to be. Rather than being based on any sort of capitalistic “business is a persecuted minority” mentality, the real reason for being opposed to regulation of business is that it tends to move costs from the established, powerful businesses to everyone else- increasing the former’s economic power and undermining opportunities for the rest.
20. Homosexuality should be accepted by society vs Homosexuality should be discouraged by society
I just want to know why we’re still arguing this one. Seriously, why? It is not my business who you fuck, unless you are trying to fuck me.
Although not every one of the 20 questions is bunkum, the quiz as a whole can only possibly make sense- or even be answered- by those who have accepted the mainstream political landscape hook, line, and sinker. The number that have is growing ever smaller.
Ok, so time for the results. The quiz puts you into one of the following categories:
- Staunch Conservatives
- Main Street Republicans
- Libertarians
- Disaffecteds
- Post-Moderns
- New Coalition Democrats
- Hard-Pressed Democrats
- Solid Liberals
I was placed in “Disaffecteds”, which makes 11% of the (American) population. Disaffecteds are described as:
What They Believe
- Highly critical of both government and business
- Sympathetic to the poor and supportive of social welfare programs
- Concerned about immigration
- Majority believes the country can’t solve many of its important problems
- Religious and socially conservative
Who They Are
- Most financially stressed of the groups: nearly half describe their household as “struggling”
- 71% have experienced unemployment in their household in the past 12 months
- About two-thirds have only a high school education or less
- Compared with the national average of 33%, more are parents (44%)
- 26% have a U.S. passport — well below the national average
- 23% follow NASCAR racing
The first section scores 1/5. The second barely describes my situation at all. Not impressive in the slightest.
Conclusion: A quiz designed purely at those already supporting the Status Quo. Does nothing for anyone with any form of radical ideas at all. Based just as much on stereotypes as it is ideas. Suggested action: Flush it into the Houses of Parliament’s sewers with the rest of the stupid crap it carries.
