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View Full Version : Poll: Do You Count Yourself Right, Left, or Center?



IMPress Polly
07-14-2018, 10:22 AM
Just thought I'd do an updated survey of the political composition of our remaining membership to see if my suspicions about a steadily growing imbalance in favor of right wing views is a match for the facts.

Common
07-14-2018, 10:37 AM
I was a registered democrat until Jimmy Carter became president as soon as I got a mailer asking for donations for his re election I went independent and have stayed there ever since.

I was Center left up until Obama became president. Im sure everyone that has the mindset will accuse me of racism for not liking obama but it was his actions not his skin color. He was a total fraud in my estimation and I payed close attention. It wasnt all obama who made me go further right, it was the idiots that idolized him and lied for him religiously and raged against anyone that dared tried to say they didnt support what he was doing. The race card was personified by the left starting the minute he was elected. GET THAT??? We elect the first black President but were racists because we dont like his policies, go figure.

I slide more and more to the right every time I hear the left wing media LIE and I read all the raging lunacy from the left that is 90% untrue. The final straw is illegal immigration and the left wanting OPEN BORDERS and now want to abolish ice and some want to socialize the country. Never again can I support democrats, im too old and wont live long enough for them to ever turn their present lunacy around.

Chris
07-14-2018, 10:53 AM
Politically, anarchist.

Socially, on the right.

barb012
07-14-2018, 11:10 AM
I am a registered Independent.

Common
07-14-2018, 11:14 AM
I am a registered Independent.

:highfive::highfive:

Lummy
07-14-2018, 11:25 AM
I am registered Independent, susceptible to campaign mail from both major parties.

IMPress Polly
07-14-2018, 11:26 AM
I shouldn't have included "other" as an option. It's a cop-out that too many people are taking advantage of.

DLLS
07-14-2018, 11:50 AM
I am so far to the right I make Rush Limbaugh look like a liberal. Okay perhaps that is a slight exaggeration.

Chris
07-14-2018, 11:51 AM
I shouldn't have included "other" as an option. It's a cop-out that too many people are taking advantage of.

You mean you can't fit people in nice little cubbyholes.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 11:53 AM
I'm a man of the right in some ways. A man of the left in others.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 11:54 AM
You mean you can't fit people in nice little cubbyholes.

Not to mention these terms are becoming obsolete.

DLLS
07-14-2018, 11:55 AM
I'm a man of the right in some ways. A man of the left in others.

So you're bi-political?

Common
07-14-2018, 12:12 PM
I shouldn't have included "other" as an option. It's a cop-out that too many people are taking advantage of.
I agree it might have been better to have added Conservative and Progressive

Methinks most of the "others" are conservatives who consider themselves all the way right and not center right

Adelaide
07-14-2018, 12:14 PM
I shouldn't have included "other" as an option. It's a cop-out that too many people are taking advantage of.

The right/left spectrum isn't really accurate, in part because most people don't fall into one category clearly. I'm socially liberal and fiscally conservative, technically. Contextually, in Canada I am a Liberal member (left of centre), in the United States I would vote libertarian and I am more likely to side with liberals and even socialists in Europe. I support strict gun laws in Canada, and oppose them in the United States because I also believe in following the Constitution of each country. Basically, it's not black and white, left or right. Most people have complex opinions that end up on both sides of that dichotomy, and it doesn't mean they are centrist.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 12:28 PM
So you're bi-political?
Yes. Yes, I am.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 12:29 PM
If any discussion was actually desired these terms would have been defined.

IMPress Polly
07-14-2018, 12:37 PM
*sighs*

Nevermind. I had posted something here, but I gave up.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 12:48 PM
*sighs*

Nevermind. I had posted something here, but I gave up.

So persecuted. :sad:

Mister D
07-14-2018, 12:49 PM
So Polly starts a poll, doesn't get the answer she wanted and then..."sigh". lol

Adelaide
07-14-2018, 12:58 PM
*sighs*

Nevermind. I had posted something here, but I gave up.

Why?

Every poll I have ever seen posted ultimately raises questions about what was included or not included. This seems to indicate that most people don't like labels, or don't think they fit in with labels, and is not an attack on the person that posted it. If someone posted a poll about whether the grass is green with a Yes/No answer option, someone would say they don't have grass in the desert or someone would say theirs is yellow or whatever. That's the nature of polling people. Polling people with strong opinions even moreso.

IMPress Polly
07-14-2018, 01:29 PM
Why?

Every poll I have ever seen posted ultimately raises questions about what was included or not included. This seems to indicate that most people don't like labels, or don't think they fit in with labels, and is not an attack on the person that posted it. If someone posted a poll about whether the grass is green with a Yes/No answer option, someone would say they don't have grass in the desert or someone would say theirs is yellow or whatever. That's the nature of polling people. Polling people with strong opinions even moreso.

I feel like this thread is a failure like all the others I start anymore and I'm just tired of people wrecking everything I try to do intentionally. I doubt that most people are being honest about their inability to find a general location within a left-center-right spectrum. You're not all special cases.

Helena
07-14-2018, 01:33 PM
I feel like this thread is a failure like all the others I start anymore and I'm just tired of people wrecking everything I try to do intentionally. I doubt that most people are being honest about their inability to find a general location within a left-center-right spectrum.

Do you generally distrust people and expect them to lie?

Chloe
07-14-2018, 01:36 PM
I’m sure if I were to go line by line over every single issue then some answers might put me far left to somewhere near the center depending on this topic, but overall I know I’m generally left of center on most major issues.

IMPress Polly
07-14-2018, 01:39 PM
Do you generally distrust people and expect them to lie?

Sometimes. Like right now. I expect people to take the easy road before the honest one, let's put it that way.

The OP requested actual answers. It's not helpful if people go out of their to actively not provide any.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 01:41 PM
Sometimes. Like right now. I expect people to take the easy road before the honest one, let's put it that way.

The OP requested actual answers. It's not helpful if people go out of their to actively not provide any.
Define your terms.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 01:42 PM
I feel like this thread is a failure like all the others I start anymore and I'm just tired of people wrecking everything I try to do intentionally. I doubt that most people are being honest about their inability to find a general location within a left-center-right spectrum. You're not all special cases.
Stop being a baby. Grow up.

You're right. They aren't special cases. The terms simply don't work well anymore. If they do, define them.

Adelaide
07-14-2018, 01:44 PM
I feel like this thread is a failure like all the others I start anymore and I'm just tired of people wrecking everything I try to do intentionally. I doubt that most people are being honest about their inability to find a general location within a left-center-right spectrum. You're not all special cases.

For the record, I am not suggesting that I am a special case. I voted as "left" because I know that's how I am perceived, and I weighted the significance of social or economic issues in my mind, ranked social higher in importance/what I am more passionate about, and acknowledged I am on the left.

But a lot of people don't identify with either side, or in the middle. You also couldn't possibly have listed every political theory that might be followed (which has been tried), not enough spots for that and a complete list would be hard to gather. Those who identify as something other than the mainstream brand of liberal or conservative would probably have to vote as "other".

Helena
07-14-2018, 01:58 PM
Sometimes. Like right now. I expect people to take the easy road before the honest one, let's put it that way.

The OP requested actual answers. It's not helpful if people go out of their to actively not provide any.
If it's helpful, I'm the one who voted more or less centrist. To further help you put me in a box, the country (according to many political tests I've taken) where I would fare the best happens to be Uruguay.

? I don't know if that fits your preconceived notions or not, but I do want to be helpful.

Mr.Soxes
07-14-2018, 02:07 PM
If it's helpful, I'm the one who voted more or less centrist. To further help you put me in a box, the country (according to many political tests I've taken) where I would fare the best happens to be Uruguay.

? I don't know if that fits your preconceived notions or not, but I do want to be helpful.

I got Malta!:grin:

IMPress Polly
07-14-2018, 02:08 PM
I don't really consider myself to be conservative, moderate, liberal, libertarian, or progressive at present (I would regard myself as left of all those types of persuasions), but I can still find a general place for myself on simple left-right spectrum easily.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 02:12 PM
I don't really consider myself to be conservative, moderate, liberal, libertarian, or progressive at present (I would regard myself as left of all those types of persuasions), but I can still find a general place for myself on simple left-right spectrum easily.
You could very easily be placed to the far left. What you don't seem to realize is that not everyone can be placed so easily.

IMPress Polly
07-14-2018, 02:13 PM
You could very easily be placed to the far left. What you don't seem to realize is that not everyone can be placed so easily.

Here's an easy way to figure things out: are you a fan of Trump? He's a pretty polarizing character, so if the answer is yes then maybe "other" isn't actually the right category for you.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 02:18 PM
Here's an easy way to figure things out: are you a fan of Trump? He's a pretty polarizing character, so if the answer is yes then maybe "other" isn't actually the right category for you.

Is it? I voted for Trump. He is in the process of nominating his second SCJ. Well worth my vote. I agree with Trump on some matters. I disagree on others. IOW, no, it's not.

So, why don't you define your terms? Can you?

Chris
07-14-2018, 02:38 PM
Here's an easy way to figure things out: are you a fan of Trump? He's a pretty polarizing character, so if the answer is yes then maybe "other" isn't actually the right category for you.


I don't like Trump. I agree with some of his POLICIES, disagree with others. Ditto Clinton, Sanders, etc.

BTW, Trump is not conservative, he's liberal. His protectionist tariffs are standard fair for liberal progressives, Clinton promised them, Obama implemented them. I'll bet that, like Who who likes Canadian tariffs but dislikes Trump's, you too had no problem with liberal tariffs but do with Trump's.

Chris
07-14-2018, 02:39 PM
Is it? I voted for Trump. He is in the process of nominating his second SCJ. Well worth my vote. I agree with Trump on some matters. I disagree on others. IOW, no, it's not.

So, why don't you define your terms? Can you?

She seems to want to define left and right in terms of Trump.

Adelaide
07-14-2018, 02:41 PM
Here's an easy way to figure things out: are you a fan of Trump? He's a pretty polarizing character, so if the answer is yes then maybe "other" isn't actually the right category for you.
Not sure that Trump is a good litmus test since he isn't every "establishment friendly". Some on the left or in the center support some of his actions, and some in the center or on the right can't stand him. The hardcore establishment right-wing individuals wouldn't have chosen him over many of the other candidates, and some liberals may have voted for him because they couldn't vote for Clinton. Most of the liberals that I know who didn't vote for Clinton either voted libertarian or didn't vote at all, because she was not a desirable candidate for many reasons for many people... but not everyone did that. I also interact with liberals in my academic pursuits who support him on the grounds of the Supreme Court, specifically. Certain sectors of the labor market that might normally be liberal (very liberal) may support his trade positions, also.

NapRover
07-14-2018, 02:44 PM
Way right, but not deaf to ideas, nor unwilling to negotiate.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 02:52 PM
She seems to want to define left and right in terms of Trump.
Which is ridiculous considering he's not "right"...but what does that even mean?

I took it to mean that one is not left if one does not hyperventilate over Trump's tweets or entertain preposterous fantasies of "collusion".

Chris
07-14-2018, 03:11 PM
Which is ridiculous considering he's not "right"...but what does that even mean?

I took it to mean that one is not left if one does not hyperventilate over Trump's tweets or entertain preposterous fantasies of "collusion".

One is simply sort of deranged to get that worked up over one politician.

roadmaster
07-14-2018, 03:55 PM
Independent, was a big fan of Ross Perot. Refused to vote at all for Bush or McCain and don't like Mitt. Yes a right just not a Ted Cruz right. So we can't be thrown all together.

MisterVeritis
07-14-2018, 04:04 PM
Other people consider me to be...

A Constitutional Conservative (I believe all governments should be limited by written documents)

A Conservative/right wing (I don't mind government acting as long as they support my desires)

A moderate (I have no real opinions I am willing to expose)

A Progressive, liberal, socialist, national socialist, international socilaist, Communist, Marxist, fascist, Leftist (we need a powerful, centralized government to take from productive people and give to unproductive people just to make things "fair")

I am an independent (I cannot stand Leftists and have never understood Constitutional Conservatism).


Make a poll out of that.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 04:24 PM
One is simply sort of deranged to get that worked up over one politician.
Agreed. The funny part if that this is most definitely part of his political strategy.

Anyway, it about 10 years ago when I began to move away from the American right. I no longer think of myself as a conservative or a man of the right at least in North American terms. If you disagree on an issue impor5rant to a self-described progressive or conservative you ideological credential are attacked.

Chris
07-14-2018, 04:39 PM
Agreed. The funny part if that this is most definitely part of his political strategy.

Anyway, it about 10 years ago when I began to move away from the American right. I no longer think of myself as a conservative or a man of the right at least in North American terms. If you disagree on an issue impor5rant to a self-described progressive or conservative you ideological credential are attacked.

I'd agree, he distracts people and makes them look foolish for it.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 04:41 PM
I'd agree, he distracts people and makes them look foolish for it.
Granted, he doesn't have to work very hard at it. He could cure cancer and they'd find something wrong with it. While they babble on about collusion he's nominating justices.

Tahuyaman
07-14-2018, 04:43 PM
Politically, anarchist.

Socially, on the right.

Anarchy is a far right wing ideal.

I am no doubt a right winger both socially and fiscally.

Captdon
07-14-2018, 05:13 PM
I feel like this thread is a failure like all the others I start anymore and I'm just tired of people wrecking everything I try to do intentionally. I doubt that most people are being honest about their inability to find a general location within a left-center-right spectrum. You're not all special cases.

I believe in small government except where the feds are needed. Abortion is murder.Some people need help to survive. I mean, disabled people.I believe welfare is a sham and unconstitutional. I believe Social Security is legal and a good program. I think you are responsible for your health insurance.

I believe the President has the right to take military action when needed until Congress meets.I think we need term limits.I believe CR is a federal job.I think the feds have no place on education in any way.I believe the feds can only act to an actual danger not a possible one.

I believe the feds own large tracts out west and have the right to control them as long as it doesn't interfere with the public right to use them.

I believe the Constitution is not a living document open to interpretation. it means what it say and any question are answered by the papers of the founders and the people who had it ratified.

I believe my right to privacy ends with a warrant.

I believe a person is worth whatever they can get.

I don't believe the feds have any right to my estate. I paid taxes once.

Now, Polly, what am I? how would you classify me?

Captdon
07-14-2018, 05:17 PM
I don't really consider myself to be conservative, moderate, liberal, libertarian, or progressive at present (I would regard myself as left of all those types of persuasions), but I can still find a general place for myself on simple left-right spectrum easily.

I can help you now. You're a failed feminist who clings to the very far-left. You think Sanders is a right-wing nut. Just read your own posts.

Captdon
07-14-2018, 05:20 PM
Here's an easy way to figure things out: are you a fan of Trump? He's a pretty polarizing character, so if the answer is yes then maybe "other" isn't actually the right category for you.

Why? You can't make that judgement. If you liked Clinton you are a traitor. See how that works depending on who defines thing for others?

Mister D
07-14-2018, 05:20 PM
So, Polly, so far "right of center" members account for about a quarter of your respondents.

Captdon
07-14-2018, 05:21 PM
Here's an easy way to figure things out: are you a fan of Trump? He's a pretty polarizing character, so if the answer is yes then maybe "other" isn't actually the right category for you.

Why? You can't make that judgement. If you liked Clinton you are a traitor. See how that works depending on who defines thing for others?

You can't even define Trump.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 05:21 PM
Why? You can't make that judgement. If you liked Clinton you are a traitor. See how that works depending on who defines thing for others?
Which is the entire problem with the poll.

texan
07-14-2018, 05:21 PM
Independent leans right

IMPress Polly
07-14-2018, 06:37 PM
Adelaide wrote:
Not sure that Trump is a good litmus test since he isn't every "establishment friendly".

What does that even mean? He's a billionaire who's political party control all levels and branches of government at present, his favorite news network has the highest ratings, he has the unsubtle support of corporate America writ large (as made especially clear both by the stock market and on the pages of the Wall Street Journal) and enjoys a higher job approval rating than Obama enjoyed at this same stage in his tenure. He's NOT a victim and he's NOT an outsider.

Mister D
07-14-2018, 06:42 PM
What does that even mean? He's a billionaire who's political party control all levels and branches of government at present, his favorite news network has the highest ratings, he has the unsubtle support of corporate America writ large (as made especially clear both by the stock market and on the pages of the Wall Street Journal) and enjoys a higher job approval rating than Obama enjoyed at this same stage in his tenure. He's NOT a victim and he's NOT an outsider.
Yet for some reason the establishment tried to bury his campaign. Fox, BTW, was pretty hostile until it was clear he woudl win the nomination.

Chris
07-14-2018, 06:44 PM
What does that even mean? He's a billionaire who's political party control all levels and branches of government at present, his favorite news network has the highest ratings, he has the unsubtle support of corporate America writ large (as made especially clear both by the stock market and on the pages of the Wall Street Journal) and enjoys a higher job approval rating than Obama enjoyed at this same stage in his tenure. He's NOT a victim and he's NOT an outsider.


You forgot white and male. :shocked20:

Tahuyaman
07-14-2018, 07:03 PM
Independent leans right
I'm not sure about that. Do Bernie Sanders supporters lean to the right? Jill Stein supporters lean to the right?

Tahuyaman
07-14-2018, 07:05 PM
Yet for some reason the establishment tried to bury his campaign. Fox, BTW, was pretty hostile until it was clear he woudl win the nomination.


Fox wasn't hostile to Sanders. In fact they were possibly the only ones consistently reporting how the DNC was stacking the deck against him.

Tahuyaman
07-14-2018, 07:09 PM
Adelaide wrote:
Not sure that Trump is a good litmus test since he isn't every "establishment friendly".



What does that even mean? He's a billionaire who's political party control all levels and branches of government at present, his favorite news network has the highest ratings, he has the unsubtle support of corporate America writ large (as made especially clear both by the stock market and on the pages of the Wall Street Journal) and enjoys a higher job approval rating than Obama enjoyed at this same stage in his tenure. He's NOT a victim and he's NOT an outsider.


Regardless of political affiliation, the political establishment refuses to accept Trump as one of them. Anyone with a minimal grasp of political events should know this.

Captdon
07-15-2018, 10:47 AM
What does that even mean? He's a billionaire who's political party control all levels and branches of government at present, his favorite news network has the highest ratings, he has the unsubtle support of corporate America writ large (as made especially clear both by the stock market and on the pages of the Wall Street Journal) and enjoys a higher job approval rating than Obama enjoyed at this same stage in his tenure. He's NOT a victim and he's NOT an outsider.

Have you been in a coma? He has been attacked from Day One. Since he has never held elective office before he's the definition of outsider.

The Xl
07-15-2018, 10:52 AM
Minarchist libertarian leaning independent.

Chris
07-15-2018, 11:06 AM
Clearly, a plurality, nearly a majority, don't fit your categories, Polly:

https://i.snag.gy/GrU9cS.jpg

Peter1469
07-15-2018, 12:49 PM
What does that even mean? He's a billionaire who's political party control all levels and branches of government at present, his favorite news network has the highest ratings, he has the unsubtle support of corporate America writ large (as made especially clear both by the stock market and on the pages of the Wall Street Journal) and enjoys a higher job approval rating than Obama enjoyed at this same stage in his tenure. He's NOT a victim and he's NOT an outsider.
He most certainly is a political outsider.

IMPress Polly
07-18-2018, 06:03 AM
The most striking thing about the outcome of this poll to me has been the small number of votes. In a survey of our members from around this same time last year, as memory serves, some 48 people voted. This time around, only 19 people voted, which suggests that some 60% of our previous active membership has ceased posting in the last year or so.

The results of the poll so far are...

8 "other" votes
5 right-of-center votes
4 left-of-center votes
2 more or less centrist votes

This is not a clarifying or satisfactory outcome. Therefore, we are going to try this again using a different, simpler, more objective gauge here (http://thepoliticalforums.com/threads/99314-Poll-What-s-Your-Opinion-of-Trump).

Chris
07-18-2018, 06:45 AM
What would have been satisfying?


So approval of Trump now determines whether your left dor right? Nonsense.

Mister D
07-18-2018, 08:09 AM
What would have been satisfying?
She said exactly that earlier.

So approval of Trump now determines whether your left dor right? Nonsense.

nathanbforrest45
07-18-2018, 08:17 AM
I count myself more in the camp of Ayn Rand's Objectivist. While much of the Conservative Party today meets with my approval I find absolutely nothing the Democrats are offering to be palatable.

If you want to know what I really think see my Heinlein quote below.

Hoosier8
07-18-2018, 08:45 AM
Freedom Fighter. One of the reasons I hate to see Justice Kennedy go is he most often sided on the side of personal freedom.

Tahuyaman
07-18-2018, 10:59 AM
I am a registered Independent.


That indicates you have no party loyalties. That has nothing to do with left or right.

MisterVeritis
07-18-2018, 11:04 AM
Freedom Fighter. One of the reasons I hate to see Justice Kennedy go is he most often sided on the side of personal freedom.
Explain. He sided with the State. He (along with four other men and women in black dresses) expanded the government's authority without a Constitutional amendment.

MisterVeritis
07-18-2018, 01:09 PM
I am one of the Normals. The Normals are the great bulk of the people who make the country work, who generate its wealth and defend individual liberty. About one-third of the people here are abnormals, Democrats, Progressives, Marxists, national socialists, fascists or whatever cute names they come up with from time to time to conceal who they really are.

Are you one of the Normals?
Or are you one of the abnormals?

The Xl
07-18-2018, 01:27 PM
The problem with the left/right/center box is the fact that some leanings are hard to define. Where do libertarians fall? They side with the left on some things like defense and civil liberties, but the right on taxation and whatnot? Where would an anarchist fall? Depending on who you ask, they can be either far left or far right, etc. Also the fact that traditional Dems and Republicans vote/support politicians that ignore their parties stated values throws another wrench in the descriptions.

Mini Me
07-18-2018, 01:41 PM
I am so far to the right I make Rush Limbaugh look like a liberal. Okay perhaps that is a slight exaggeration.

You are to the right of Atilla the Hun!

Captdon
07-18-2018, 07:57 PM
That wasn't one of the choices.