Political Crossfire Forums

[Learning]

I'm trying to figure out what exactly my political beliefs are. I think each belief has a strong points, but they all have bad points. I'm trying to figure out what I am, can someone help me with a test or something? (But please let it be a looong test, because I really want to know what I am, not just like "8 questions and your done" test, you know)

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/
http://www.okcupid.com/politics
http://madrabbit.net/webrabbit/quizshow.html
http://www.geocities.com/donaldjhagen/humoroustest.html
http://www.politicalbrew.com/politest.cgi
http://quizilla.com/users/hazelwudi/quizzes/Where%20do%20you%20fall%20on%20the%20liberal%20-%20conservative%20political%20spectrum%3F%20%20(United%20States)

[Don Quixote]

nice tests there Joe.

[Kalu]

I've taken 5+ political tests, and they're usually pretty subpar. That said, politicalcompass.org is the best political test I've taken. I've seen the results of people who have taken it, and it's usually pretty damn accurate. Not to say it doesn't have it's faults, but it's the best test I've seen that explains political ideologies and views and gives one an accurate result.

EDIT:

http://www.okcupid.com/politics

This test is ridiculous and helping confuse people. Anarchists, as a rule, are almost always staunchly anti-capitalist (there is an "anarcho-capitalist" ideology, but the validity of this ideology within the anarchist movement is very debatable. Most people when referring to anarchists recognize that they're against the "free market"). Libertarians support government at a basic level, yes, but they still support the institution of government (to enforce private contracts, provide "law and order", etc.)

[ExcuseMe]

Don Quixote wrote: nice tests there Joe.

that is not joe trumps, it is Mr. Smith. Sorry for the confusion.

[Wolverine]

Devaka wrote: I've taken 5+ political tests, and they're usually pretty subpar. That said, politicalcompass.org is the best political test I've taken. I've seen the results of people who have taken it, and it's usually pretty damn accurate. Not to say it doesn't have it's faults, but it's the best test I've seen that explains political ideologies and views and gives one an accurate result.

EDIT:

http://www.okcupid.com/politics

This test is ridiculous and helping confuse people. Anarchists, as a rule, are almost always staunchly anti-capitalist (there is an "anarcho-capitalist" ideology, but the validity of this ideology within the anarchist movement is very debatable. Most people when referring to anarchists recognize that they're against the "free market"). Libertarians support government at a basic level, yes, but they still support the institution of government (to enforce private contracts, provide "law and order", etc.)
So what did you come out as? :hy:

[Kalu]

ProGunAmerican wrote: Devaka wrote: I've taken 5+ political tests, and they're usually pretty subpar. That said, politicalcompass.org is the best political test I've taken. I've seen the results of people who have taken it, and it's usually pretty damn accurate. Not to say it doesn't have it's faults, but it's the best test I've seen that explains political ideologies and views and gives one an accurate result.

EDIT:

http://www.okcupid.com/politics

This test is ridiculous and helping confuse people. Anarchists, as a rule, are almost always staunchly anti-capitalist (there is an "anarcho-capitalist" ideology, but the validity of this ideology within the anarchist movement is very debatable. Most people when referring to anarchists recognize that they're against the "free market"). Libertarians support government at a basic level, yes, but they still support the institution of government (to enforce private contracts, provide "law and order", etc.)
So what did you come out as? :hy:

I didn't take the test, I saw the way they represent the political views in relation to each other and saw anarchy as "extreme capitalist Libertarianism" and started laughing.

For the record: I'm an anarchist. On political compass I usually get -8 for economic left-winger and -9 for social libertarian.

Cheers.

[Wolverine]

Better to be an anarchist than a communist. :wink:

[anselfir]

how is that anarchist? you are close to stalin on the economics!

[Kalu]

oneofthem wrote: how is that anarchist? you are close to stalin on the economics!

Educate yourself.

Wikipedia wrote: The terms "anarchy" and "anarchism" are derived from the Greek αναρχία ("without archons (rulers)"). Thus "anarchism," in its most general meaning, is the belief that rulership is unnecessary and should be abolished. The word "anarchy", as most anarchists use it, does not imply chaos or anomie, but rather a stateless society with voluntary social relations.

Last time I checked, Stalin was a brutal dictator who didn't want an egalitarian, non-hierarchical, stateless society. Remember, there are two parts to politics: economics and social values. While I am strongly against capitalism, I'm also strongly against Stalinism and other authoritarian political views and ideologies. Anarchism is about the abolishment of the state and capitalism, replacing the two with a voluntary society that focuses on individual rights and mutual cooperation. I'm not going to get into details, read the wikipedia article and check the links for more info.

[ExcuseMe]

nevermind

[anselfir]

Devaka wrote: oneofthem wrote: how is that anarchist? you are close to stalin on the economics!

Educate yourself.

Wikipedia wrote: The terms "anarchy" and "anarchism" are derived from the Greek αναρχία ("without archons (rulers)"). Thus "anarchism," in its most general meaning, is the belief that rulership is unnecessary and should be abolished. The word "anarchy", as most anarchists use it, does not imply chaos or anomie, but rather a stateless society with voluntary social relations.

Last time I checked, Stalin was a brutal dictator who didn't want an egalitarian, non-hierarchical, stateless society. Remember, there are two parts to politics: economics and social values. While I am strongly against capitalism, I'm also strongly against Stalinism and other authoritarian political views and ideologies. Anarchism is about the abolishment of the state and capitalism, replacing the two with a voluntary society that focuses on individual rights and mutual cooperation. I'm not going to get into details, read the wikipedia article and check the links for more info. egalitarian societies are only kept by force! of course i know what your fantasies are, they are wrong.

[Kalu]

oneofthem wrote: egalitarian societies are only kept by force! of course i know what your fantasies are, they are wrong.

Watch Fox, consume Doritos, brand yourself as a sheep and be content with your ignorance.

Also, you do realise egalitarian societies being kept by force are oxymorons, right? If there is a ruler and there are the ruled, that's the farthest possible thing from egalitarianism. Plus, in "communist" states, in reality it's state capitalism, where the party and mainly the head of the party manages the resources and uses it for it's own means; not the people. Anarchists wish to eliminate rulers and ruling classes; whether that means destroying a "communist" bureaucracy or a corporate power elite.

Look up the following examples of voluntary, egalitarian societies based on solidarity:

Barcelona, Catalonia and Andalucia, Spain, 1936; Chiapas, Mexico, 1994-Present; Paris, France, 1871

Egalitarian societies can very easily be kept without force when there are no rulers; when there is no army or police to crush the populace while dispensing punishment arbitrarily, or worse, based on class or race; when there is an equitable system not based on wage slavery; when there isn't a bureaucracy; when people understand their liberties, and the equality of all humans regardless of race, ethnicity, "national origin", gender, sex, religion and so on; when people are allowed to cooperate instead of compete; when corporations and capitalist ruling classes are dismantled or overthrown; when egalitarian, anti-racist, accessible, non-compulsory, cooperative education is provided to the people.

Basically, egalitarian societies can be kept without force when there is community and a conducible environment. What you see in New Orleans, what you see in Somalia or any other chaotic place is not anarchy; anarchy is not only the absence of government, but the presence of equitable conditions, nonhierarchical organization, community and peace.

Unfortunately, anarchist rebellions haven't been able to survive long due to external intervention or statist forces. For example, Nestor Makhno assisted a Ukrainian peasant uprising against the Bolshevik dictatorship, counter-revolutionary "White" forces, and anti-Semitic pogromists during the 1920s, but was eventually forced into exile due to the extensive resources of the Bolshevik dictatorship.

That doesn't mean there isn't hope; anarchist collectives have sprung up all over the world, in the US, UK and so on. Educating people about anarchism and it's basic ideals is the first step towards revolution. People against egalitarianism, freedom and the basic liberties of the individual will fight viciously; vested interests will struggle against mass education, forces like the corporate media, national governments, hypernationalists, capitalists and authoritarians of all political stripes. It doesn't matter, so long as there is a will there will be a way.

For those who'd prefer not to wallow in ignorance;

Anarchist FAQ
What is Anarchism? - By Alexander Berkman
God and the State - By Mikhail Bakunin
What Is Property? - By Pierre Joseph Proudhoun
Fake "Anarchists"
Anarchist Web Resources

The main wikipedia article on anarchism is very well done too; there are many different views on anarchism, strategies, anarchism in history, and so on.