A fun and interesting internet quiz.
The Moral Politics Test
Go ahead and take it before looking at my answers.
The following categories best match your score (multiple responses are possible):
- System: Socialism
- Ideology: Social Democratism, Activism
- Party: Green Party
- Presidents: Jimmy Carter
- 04' Election: David Cobb
- 08' Election: Dennis Kucinich
Of the 660,465 respondents (11,708 on Facebook):
- 6% are close to you.
- 63% are more conservative.
- 3% are more liberal.
- 7% are more socialist.
- 20% are moreauthoritarian.
1. About God (whatever God means for you).
I chose:
Religion should not exist. (You think religion is more of a negative force than a positive one).
Why:
The religions that I have been most exposed to have encouraged individuals not to think for themselves and to turn to dogma for answers. This has long term negative effects on both the individual and society.
2. About ethnic groups.
I chose:
Some ethnic groups are btter than others. (Some ethnic groups have superior qualities (biological, social, artistic…) compared to others.
Why:
This is where the ‘hint’ makes a big difference. I don’t think that any ethnic group is ‘better’ than any other. I don’t even really believe in ethnic groups. What I do believe is that through evolution peoples in certain religions have evolved similar traits. These traits are different between groups. Northern Europeans have lighter skin than Africans. This is better for Northern Europeans in Northern Europe. Darker skin is better for Africans in Africa. An advantage in one area can often be a disadvantage in another.
3. About Cultures
I chose:
All cultures are equal. (The fact that cultures have been more productive than others does not make them more worthy).
Why:
Similar to the ethnic groups different cultures evolve different practices to thrive in their environments. Something in European culture allowed Europeans and European culture to dominate a large part of the globe and eliminate (or nearly eliminate) other cultures. Many of these cultures had beliefs and practices that would be quite beneficial if practiced more widely (see some Native American ideas towards conservation and the environment).
4. About countries
I chose:
We are all citizens of the world (Countries, boundaries, and patriotism create conflict and opportunities for oppression).
Why:
Countries, boundaries, and patriotism create conflict and opportunities for oppression. The side of a non-existent line one is born on can have a profound impact on the entirety of one’s life. National boundaries are created through politics and power. Two of the worst ways to make decisions.
5. About lifestyles
I chose:
No one should have a say about our lifestyles (Life style decisions are a private matter. “Non-traditional” lifestyles have a positive impact on society).
Why:
Allowing people to live their life their own way is the only way to allow people to fulfill their full potential. Every person that reaches their potential benefits the rest of us.
6. About men and women
I chose: Men and women are different but equal (Men and women are equal but natural differences suggest that it’s ok if they play different roles in certain contexts).
Why:
Similar to lifestyles, allowing individuals to live individually allows each individual their best opportunity. It’s not so much that I believe that men and women are different, I believe everyone is different. This was the best answer.
7. About nature
I chose:
Nature does not belong to us, we belong to nature (Exploitation of natural resources should be tightly controlled or prevented whenever possible).
Why:
Some people believe that humans are at the top of the food (and other resource) chain and have dominion over all the world’s plants and animals. I disagree. We are but one species on the earth. No better, no worse. Most would agree that a defenseless human child should not be exploited, how are the other living things on this planet any different?
Yes, I realize that to survive we must consume resources. There is a difference between taking what is needed to survive and exploiting.
8. About success
I chose:
Success is measured by the number of people for whom you make a difference. (Success should be measured and rewarded by our ability to help other people in need).
Why:
This was a difficult question to answer. I also could have picked (Success is finding your inner self (Success should be about finding who you are and doing what you want to do, no matter the financial implications). I chose because I really feel that most people actually are happier when they are helping others.
While success is defined by each individual, there’s no denying that society has some impact on determining what qualities are considered worthwhile. I’d like a society where helping others was more respected.
9. About business
I chose: We should reward businesses that put social responsibility ahead of profitability. (While business is business, the system should favor those businesses that help society and communities).
Why:
Similar to about success. If helping others were more valued, then businesses that did so would be more successful.
10. About professional employment and advancement
I chose:
Quality of life is more important than work (People should be able to balance private life and work to their liking without being penalized).
Why:
I don’t think that everyone should be compensated equally whether they work 100 hours a week or 15 hours a week. I don’t think that a neurobiologist who spent 10 years in college should be compensated the same as your newspaper delivery boy. I do feel that people should be able to decide for themselves how they want to proportion their time.
11. About education
I chose:
Everyone should have the opportunity to receive a great education (Access to education should be the same for all, but we should pay extra attention to students that encounter difficulties).
Why:
Another tough answer. A ‘great’ education is relative to each individual. Our entire education system in the US should be revamped and individualized. It is asinine to think that cookie-cutter grade K-12 education maximizes each students’ opportunities. Some learn faster, they are held back. Some learn slower, they are left behind. Have education match the individual.
12. About health care:
I chose:
You should get the health care you are ready to pay for (Basic health care should he provided to all, but extra health care should be available to you if you want it).
Why:
A timely question. No one wants to see people dying in the street (well, it seems like some people don’t want to SEE it, whether it happens or not, while others don’t want it to happen at all). Opportunities to acquire wealth are not equal. No one should pay with their life for lack of an opportunity.
13. About financial security
I chose:
None of the above
Why:
Way too complex for a multiple choice answer. Way too complex to write here. Not everyone is capable of taking care of themselves. I work with people with disabilities. One individual I work with is paraplegic. It’s not possible that he can take care of himself. I don’t think he should just die. I don’t think that society should take care of people who choose not to take care of themselves.
14. About charity.
I chose:
None of the above
Why:
I didn’t think any of the answers were very good. As I said before there is benefit to society as a whole by allowing each individual to reach their maximum potential. Similar to health care and education. Society should pay for a certain basic level, anyone who wants to pay more should be able to.
15. About domestic security (protection from crime).
I chose:
We should have the right to defend ourselves (We should not completely rely on the system (police…) to provide us with protection.)
Why:
Of course individuals have some responsibility to themselves. Lock your doors, be aware of your surroundings, etc…I do believe that their should be limits (You don’t need a nuclear missile in you back yard to defend yourself from North Korea).
16. About respect of the law
I chose:
We should eliminate the causes of crime (Rather than simply enforcing the law, Society should focus on removing the causes of crime).
Why:
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Anyone who’s at all familiar with the statistics can see that we have a problem. 1% of the population is in jail. I agree that in some cases harsher punishments are needed. I also think that there are plenty of people in jail who have absolutely no reason to be. Some people will break the law regardless of what opportunities they have (see plenty of white collar criminals), others would not.
