September 25, 2013 Due September 29, 2013
This week’s post is a bit different. All of you, especially the seniors looking at leaders of the 20th century, need to fully understand the terms “left” and “right” politically. You will not only have them on essays and the IB exam, you will hear them all of your life as they are applied to leaders.
For this post, you need to take a short questionnaire at http://www.politicalcompass.org/ After taking the questionnaire, read the analysis (the test, analysis, and comparisons are on the scroll bar on the left of the screen). Then, post three things:
1. Your score on the political compass test (example: 1.88, -2.30) (not mine, just arbitrary numbers) (I may share mine with the class)
2. Look at the 2012 US presidential election analysis. Post who you are closest to on this quiz (example: Hillary Clinton – just for Seth)
3. Then, write a brief statement about whether you are surprised at this and/or agree with this assessment.
For extra credit, read some of the historical analysis and see who else you are closest to.
- 48 comments
- Posted under Uncategorized
hussibhoa 
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sydneymcd
said
I got -4.50, -2.51 making me a left wing libertarian. Which was much different than my last years results of -2.5, .67. From the 2012 election I am closest to Stewart Alexander. Ghandi, Alexis Tsipras, Nelson Mandela, Francios Hollande & the Dalai Llama were also in my little green square. I am honestly not surprised with this assessment. I feel like the older I get, the more leftist I get. I do not think my results would have been as drastic if I didn’t go to the amazingly liberal Gov School. That is what I attribute most of my new found answers to.
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lamexicana96
said
Economic Left/Right: -6.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.90
So I am a left-wing libertarian, no big surprise there. (I think this is really close to what I got last year.)
From the 2012 Presidential Election Analysis, I am closest to Jill Stein and Stewart Alexander. I am also close to Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Alexis Tsipras, and Francois Hollande.
I’m not surprised by any of this and, just like Sydney, I feel like the older I get the more “leftist” I become. If you know me, then you know I am SUPER liberal, and the older I get the more “extremist” (to quote my father) I become about my political beliefs.
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Jonathan Griffin
said
Economic (Left/Right): 4.75
Social (Libertarian/Authoritarian): 3.95
I’m fairly close to Jill Stein and Stewart Alexander.
I agree with my results up to a point. There were some questions that I neither agreed with nor disagreed with, so my results were altered because there was no middle ground, but besides that, I agree with my results. I’m definitely going to have to look into Mrs. Stein and Mr. Alexander when I have some free time.
One thing that I do like is that I’m very close to Gandhi and the Dalai Lama. Gandhi is an inspiration of mine, so it’s nice that I share the same views as him.
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Melissa
said
Economic Left/Right: -1.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.62
I am close to Jill Stein and Stewart Alexander from the 2012 election.
I was a little surprised because I thought I would be a little more to the right rather than the left. There were some questions that I did not agree nor disagree with and I feel as if some of the questions were misleading and biased in regards to how they were worded, so I am a little hesitant to say this is an extremely accurate reflection for me. However, it works for a general review of my political beliefs. During the election I had a difficult time deciding between Romney and Obama because I did not support or agree with either of them. I felt I was being ripped off having to decide between ‘the lesser of the two evils’. I knew I was libertarian (Ron Swanson all the way), but I still feel like I am not as far to the left as this is leading me to believe, but maybe I am.
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austinmp88
said
Economic Left/Right : -4.38
Social (Libertarian/Authoritarian) -4.67
I was closest to Jill Stein and somewhat close to Stewert Alexander.
I found my results shocking. I thought I would be on the top right, I enjoy money.
Really I was not surprised with my results. Some of the questions seemed like they were worded in a way where taking the right wing response was just evil.
“Mothers may have careers, but their first duty is to be homemakers.”
“Our race has many superior qualities, compared with other races.”- Who would agree with statements like this?
I was pretty close to Nelson Mandela and The Dali Lama historically.
I retook the test and tried to answer as Conservative as possible and I was only barley more of a social authoritarian than Obama or Romney but both were still even more right wing economically. Seeing as how ridiculous some of the questions were, I find it hard to believe that even John McCain could be more Right Wing than my retest. Even though I feel my original results were fairly accurate, I think the questions are not extreme enough to actually see how left wing someone is. Answering quite moderately puts someone towards the left of this compass I believe. The compass was fun to do despite it saying my hardcore right wing answers could not compete with Obama and Romney.
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Nathaniel
said
What would happen if Hitler and Mussolini fighted Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy?
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philipeh842
said
Economic Left/Right: -7.12
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.44
I am closest to Stewart Alexander, but still further left and liberal.
I guess I expected these results and i do agree with them. I do with there was a “no opinion” choice though because there were a few questions that I would have answered that way. It is pretty cool to be near Gandhi.
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Nathaniel
said
What would happen if Hitler and Mussolini fighted Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy?
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jameswilliamjohnson
said
Hitler and Mussolini would win. Hitler/Mussolini were fit guys. Gandhi would starve himself. Leo would put up a decent fight with his beard. Did you know Leo doesn’t have any hands? He is able to grip things with his beard.
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hkwoodie95
said
Economic Left/Right: -.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.59
For the US 2012 Presidential Candidates I am closest to Jill Stein and Stewart Alexander .
These results are surprising to me. I am a Left Libertarian, according to this chart. Even though I am a Left Libertarian, I am closer to the middle of the graph. I have never considered myself to be a Left Libertarian, however I do agree with these results because I am always trying to make sure everyone is taken care of.
Internationally I am closest to Nelson Mandela and Francois Hollande. I am also close to,but more to the right of, Alexis Tsipras and the Dalai Lama.
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hopehayes
said
My results were -1.88, 1.90
For the us 2012 presidential candidates I am closest to Jill stein and Stewart Alexander.
My results was a little surprising to me, because I thought I leaned more towards the right than the left or in the middle! But I’m not a political person and don’t think much about those questions!
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animallover5544
said
Economic Left/Right: -4.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.74
For the Presidential Candidates: Stewart Alexander
My results were not that surprising to me because I am a Libertarian when it come to most topics and when it come to people and economics I usually lean more to the left then I do the right. It did surprise me that it was not closer to the middle. I’m also happy that I am near Gandhi. Yay!
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@therealaaronrohlman
said
Economic Left/Right: -0.38
Libertarian/Authoritarian: 1.03
I am fairly neutral, but according to this quiz I am a left-wing authoritarian, but only very slightly left wing.
I looked at the chart and I am not really close to anyone. I was not really surprised because many of the questions were just facts asking me to state whether I disagreed or agreed.. but there was no neutral ground so that may have swayed my results.
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@therealaaronrohlman
said
I took it again and got 2.3, and 0.9. That makes more sense and I actually thought about the questions this time. hahaha
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Nathaniel
said
Eh..as I said last time, I have a bit of a problem with this test. I like it however and I’ll go a bit more in depth about what I dislike about the test.
First of all, I scored a economic score of -4.1 and a social score of -7.4.
Secondly, let me say that I took this three times.
The first time that I took it, I scored a little more leftist on the economic side and a little less left on the social issues with -4.62 and -6.72. The second time I did it, I scored a -5.25 and a -8.41.
The inconsistency with the test isn’t my problem because that’s my fault.
My problem lies in the questions themselves. I see them as being bias toward a liberal capitalist. There are certain questions that are asked that I believe made my score closer to the right when if asked about them, I may have a liberal reason to answer the way I did. The same could be said for the other way around but it wouldn’t apply to me then.
Examples of this include:
“The rich are too highly taxed.”
Obviously answering “strongly disagree” would move you further to the left, but what if a person doesn’t believe that the government should have the right to tax someone? This isn’t necessarily a right-wing belief. Anarchists do not believe in taxes. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, but if it isn’t really Caesar’s place to rule…is any of it Caesar’s? It’s a tough question.
“Governments should penalise businesses that mislead the public.”
Well, again..what would give you more liberal points(hereafter referred to as LP) is to say “strongly disagree” but what if you don’t believe that the government should be able to take punitive action? This is obviously liberal ideology.
“The freer the market, the freer the people.”
To score LP, you have to say “agree” I think. If one disagrees though, that isn’t necessarily right-wingin’. I believe there’s more to free trade to being free. If anything, money enslaves people and whether or not they have freedom do spend that money however they want, the money is enslaving people.
“Those who are able to work, and refuse the opportunity, should not expect society’s support.”
Forgive me if I sound like a fascist, but I hit agree. I honestly could see myself falling into this category. That isn’t necessarily because I’m lazy(although that may have something to do with it) but it is also because I don’t always feel the need. If I want to not work and simply keep to myself, making art and travelling the world or doing whatever , I don’t expect society to pay for me.
“Some people are naturally unlucky.”
LP are scored by saying agree, but if you don’t believe in luck..you’re a fascist. I think there’s a reason people are in situations that they’re in, that they can’t always help it, and that we should help them, but that isn’t because they’re unlucky. It’s because of choices that have been made.
All of this is to say that this system is flawed. I don’t think I accurately fit anywhere on this chart.
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projectmayhem1nas
said
Wait..my comment is longer than Meli’s and I am more libertarian than her…does that mean I win?
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noblitt
said
yep – score Lionel
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lamexicana96
said
Okay, I took it again and got:
Economic Left/Right: -6.12
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.13
I feel like I am more liberal than this, but it’s not a competition, so I’m not worried.
The gold star goes to Lionel because he is more liberal than I am (and has a cooler name than I do).
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shaketalynch
said
Economic Left/Right: -2.62 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.67
It’s changed from what I had had last year. Not really a bad thing. I am where I am. However, I didn’t feel strongly about some of the question. I guessvit because I wasn’t able to state my reasoning. They were pretty straight forward and to the point. I felt like I could have had mote than one answer for some of them.
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♕Princess Maddie✨ (@GingerMaddie722)
said
Economic Left/Right: -4.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 2.41
According to the 2012 Presidential Election chart, I am closest to Stewart Alexander and Jill Stein. Their score is in the green box and my score was in the red/pink box. No one from the election scored in the same box as me, which I find rather interesting.
I am fairly surprised by my results, I figured I’d be closest to the middle of the graph as a whole rather than the middle of the left side. Based on what I know, I feel like the majority of my family would be closer to the right side. That part isn’t so surprising, we almost always view everything differently. I didn’t understand some of the questions, but I answered them as best as I could. Maybe if I had understood them better my score would’ve been different. Also, several of the statements, I’m neutral on, but that wasn’t an option. Honestly, the only questions I could give a straightforward answer about was education and religious. i suppose that’s what is most important to me.
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Aislinn Nantz
said
My political compass
Economic Left/Right: -4.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.38
the person I was closest to was Stewart Alexander even though I don’t know who he is. I cant really say I was surprised to be a left libertartain because I honestly never looked into or cared to see whether I was more left or right.
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courtneydanielle2014
said
1. Economic Left/Right: -1.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 0.56
2. I am closest to Jill Stein.
3. I am sort of surprised. I did not really know where I stood when it comes to these things. I think its funny. Because I’m on the side of the communists. BAHHAHA, I can take over the world.
4. I actually do agree with this analysis. Some of the people around me, I agree with most of the stuff they say and think. So yeah. Thats it.
Extra Credit:
Yeah I don’t feel like doing it. Sorry.
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nkalafleshman
said
1. Economic Left/Right: -4.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.44
2. I’m closest to Stewart Alexander.
3. Both Mr. Alexander and I were both born in Virginia, we’re both African American, and surprisingly we both have the same middle name. Think that’s pretty interesting. It says in his profile (which I found in a Google Search: http://2012.presidential-candidates.org/Alexander/) that he was a “concerned citizin”. I don’t really see myself as a concerned citizen. I do often concern myself with things that could potentially effect my future, such as the humongous debt that America is currently in. However, I don’t find myself all that worried about the “doings” of the government. So I guess I would have to disagree with my comparison.
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suarez05j
said
My results were: Economic Left/Right: -1.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.72
According to the 2012 Presidential election chart, I am closest to Jill Stein and Stewart Alexander.
I’m not too surprised with my results because i have the same beliefs as some left libertarians. They believe in the supreme value of each individual.
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catherinebynum
said
I was left/right; -3.88, and social libertarian/authoritarian:
-1.69. I was closest to Stewart Alexander and Jill Stein. I was sort of surprised. I thought I would be closer to the right, but turns out I am in the left. I didn’t like some of these questions though. Some of them you could over think and make them into something more than they actually mean, so that influenced some of my answers also. Alexis Tspiras, Hollande, Mandela, and Dalai Lama were in my section on the international chart.
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jameswilliamjohnson
said
Economic Left/Right: -7.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.44
Closest to Jill Stein. Holy crap I’m a socialist. Where are you guys finding these famous people?
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candersonbaseball
said
Left wing Libertarian
Economic Left/Right: -2.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.41
Wow am very surprised, not because of my score but because of the person am more closest to, Jill Stein, a women. A 2016 presidential candidate running for office. I thought i was closest to Mitt Romney.LETS GET THIS STRAIGHT. I DON’T CARE IF YOUR A MALE,WOMEN,BLACK OR WHITE ETC. I JUST CARE IF YOU GET THE JOB DONE AND HELP THIS NATION. IF A AFRICAN AMERICAN CAN DO THAT, AM ALL FOR THAT. IF A WOMEN CAN DO THAT, AM ALL FOR THAT. Like i said, you can be black, white, male, female, I do not care. Just get the job done.
Am all so closest to a leader named Alexis Tsipras,leader of the Opposition. He was all so the president of the Synaspismos political party since 2008.Am all so closest to Gandhi, Preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India.
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sayrehopper
said
Econmic Left/Right: -3.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 0.00
I wasn’t really close to anyone, but I was closet to Jill Stein. I was also kind of, not really, close to Neslon Mandela, Alexis Tspiras, and Dalai Lama. I was not surprised at my results because I wasn’t sure where I might fall, so I didn’t have a lot of expectations. However, I was surprised that I ended up with a 0.00 for Libertarian/Authoriarian. Like Catherine said, I didn’t like some of the questions asked, and I am also guilty of over thinking my answers.
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dreamcatcher62
said
My results: (-5.50, -1.44)
I was closest to Stewart Alexander and Jill stein. I am surprised because I didn’t even understand half the questions and I don’t even know anything about politics.
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zacht27
said
Economics 1.00
Social -1.28
The only person I’m “close” to is Rocky Anderson of the Justice Party, as no one else from the international chart, the US election 2012 chart or this blog post is Right Libertarian.
I put “close” in quotation marks because Rocky Anderson is the only person in the purple area, but I am against almost everything his party stands for, such as legalizing illegal psychoactive drugs, abolishing corporate personhood, subsidizing green jobs, ending the Bush tax cuts, repealing the Patriot Act, a universal single payer healthcare system, closing most overseas bases, and reducing military budgets. Because of this, I am a little bit surprised.
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Nathaniel
said
Patriot Act suuuuuccckkksss. Asinine and borderline paranoid military budget suuuuccckkksss.
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annagumpi
said
I got
Economic Left/Right: -5.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.67
that makes me left liberain.
I am near Steward Alexander, that makes me near Gandhi too.
i was a Little bit surpriced about These results, because i tought i like Angela Merkel…. i dont´t know, maybe i understand some questions not so good.
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meagybreann
said
1. On the Economic Left/Right, I am -1.50. On the Social Libertarian/Authoritarian, I am -0.77
2. I am near Alexis Tsipras, Francois Hollande, the Dalai Lama, and Nelson Mandela.
3. This does not surprise me. I always knew that I was close to the middle on the political spectrum. I do agree with these results, therefore, there are things that I both agree and disagree with on both sides. When I get older I may grow more to the left side, but for now I stand close to the middle.
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kiapressley17
said
Economic Left/Right: -4.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.33
Was my score making me a lefty this means iam closer to Socialists like Mahatma Gandhi and Robert Mugabe would occupy a less extreme leftist position.
i actually believe this and iam pleased with my scores because i do believe in social decisions the left side Is typically involves a concern for those in society who are perceived as disadvantaged relative to others and an assumption that there are unjustified inequalities that need to be reduced or abolished. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing_politics) and are usually Democrats.
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mcol987
said
Economic Left/Right: -3.62
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.00
This makes me a left wing libertarian. I’m close to Stewart Alexander and Jill Stein. I never took this test and never put too much thought about what I would be politically. But now I know and I think it’ll help me in a few years when I can vote.
Permalink #
erinthebabe
said
Economic Left/Right: -1.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.33
I am pretty close to Jill Stein. Well honestly I’m not very surprised with the results of the quiz. I do somewhat agree to the quiz, but I can have a different view of everything that was on this quiz tomorrow.
I am pretty close to Gandhi on the chart, and i guess that in a way me and Gandhi are somewhat similar.
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jaybyrd40
said
Economic Left/Right: -1.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.26
Closest to: Jill Stein -3.0,-3.0
I would agree with this assessment and I’m not really surprised. I assumed going in that I would probably be very close to the middle of the scale. I feel like I have very moderate views. Although I strongly argue my opinions I feel that I have a medium standpoint on most situations. I am very open-minded and mature about these things and that’s why I think I received this score. I was also pretty close to Nelson Mandela which I was proud of.
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hoffmanalexis
said
Economic Left/Right: -1.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 4.10
I was closest with Mitt Romney. I was very surprised about that assessment I thought I would be closer on the right than the left. But I guess my opinions go more on the left.
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seth
said
Economic Left/Right: 1.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 0.62
From what I am looking at, I am not close to anyone. I don’t know if that is bad or good. Probably bad but oh well. I ended up being on the right side so i guess that isn’t to bad.
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kiarasp
said
OMG, Seth we’re alke, because I wasn’t close to anyone either.
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kiarasp
said
On economic Left/Right I scored .62 and on social Libertarian/Authoritarian 1.79.
According to the election chart, I am not like any of them. I am not surprised by this, because I do not have the same views of a lot of people. I feel specific ways about different things, I am more moderate then I am on any specific side. I am almost directly in the middle of the chart.
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madisonlineberger16
said
Okay so I got a 1.49 on the political compass. I am an authoritarian I guess. Lol. From the 2012 election, I am closest to Jill Stein and Stewart Alexander. I didn’t really hear much from them.
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madisonlineberger16
said
Part three – I am kind of surprised and kind of not. I didn’t think I was a liberal but I figured because I thought that I would end up getting results that I was. I think it matched up pretty well. I gave my honest opinion.
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Nathaniel
said
You only got one number?
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Morgan Fender
said
Economic Left/Right:1.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian:-0.15
I’m not really close to anybody on the chart, but the closest person to me is Francios Hollande.
I wasn’t too surprised about where I am on the scale. If anything, I thought I would have been more towards the right side.
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ambersb16
said
Economic Left/Right: -2.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.31
For the 2012 election, I was placed the closest to Stewart Alexander. However, I was also fairly close to Ghandi, and Tspiras. When watching Stewart Alexander on Stossel I was slightly shocked about my results. Only for the reasons of some of his suggestions. Personally, I believe that there should be more for the people, especially the working class. Alexander used a quote in his campaign from Marxism. “Workers of the world unite” He is very strong on the workers of America. One thing I do agree with is the over regulation in business by government. Regulation on business does need to be set in place, however, not the amount that is being placed today. Along with the workers he thinks that the people should be able to determine the destiny of their own communities without interference. I am also in agreeance with that. Another thing that I don’t like about Alexander is his policy on free college education. I do not think that you should have to pay the tuition amounts that they give today, but, college does not need to be free. If it was free how would the universities and colleges have the money to pay their faculty and staff? They wouldn’t!
I do not like the assessment because on some of the questions their was not a middle opinion. I could have went either way on some of the answers. I had different views on the same statements. I would have liked to have been able to write my opinion in my answer then be given a result.
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jhenninger78
said
My Score: -4.25, -1.49
I was closest to Stewart Alexander.
I was surprised about the results on the compass. The biggest surprise was how far left I was. I don’t really agree with me being really close to the communist side. Other than that I agree with the compass for the most part. http://www.politicalcompass.org/
Permalink #
marykiser
said
Economic Left/Right: 0.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.92
From what is looks like, I am right in the middle.
In the 2012 election I am closest to Jill Stein and Rocky Anderson.
I honestly am not surprised by my results. I see as me being in the middle shows that I can take a lot of sides on a lot of different issues and that’s how I am with most things in life!
(I know this is late but you told me I could do it late!)
(: