I've spent a little more time talking about politics through this election cycle than I usually do here on my blog. I've talked about the hope I have for Obama as well as some of my misgivings about him. I haven't said much about McCain, but today, after doing a little research on him, I'm really impressed with his war record. The man was a POW for five years, received daily beatings for a large part of his imprisonment, and refused opportunities to be released without his fellow prisoners. I don't think experiences like those alone qualify him to be president, but they do paint an admirable picture of his character as a soldier.

Anyway, taking some time to weigh the candidates has left me kind of wondering about my own political leanings. When I was younger I strongly self-identified as a Republican. These days I consider myself more of a moderate. I still agree with some conservative ideas, but largely reject the culture that's grown up around the ideology. I also reject the idea that I have to identify with one of two parties. People will try repeatedly to convince you that our world is a system of binary options: right/left, black/white, up/down. I don't buy it, though. I think people are more nuanced than that - even if our current political system doesn't seem to speak well to those nuances.

All that being said, I sat out this morning to try and define myself politically, or rather, let the internet define me politically. I googled a series of political world view quizzes. Here's what they produced:

--The What's Your Political Persuastion quiz gave me this result:

You Are a "Don't Tread On Me" Libertarian

You distrust the government, are fiercely independent, and don't belong in either party. Religion and politics should never mix, in your opinion... and you feel opressed by both. You don't want the government to cramp your self made style. Or anyone else's for that matter. You're proud to say that you're pro-choice on absolutely everything!

--The World's Smallest Political Quiz also said I was a Libertarian. Who knew?

--The Political Brew Political test said:

On Non-Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Moderate Liberal (30).
On Fiscal Issues, you rank as a Centrist (56).

Your score is on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being fully liberal and 100 being fully conservative.

--Politicalquiz.net gave me a much more detailed answer:

Overall, you would most likely fit into the category of Democrat

You are a social progressive. You generally consider yourself a humanist first. You probably think that religion and patriotism go too far in society. You probably consider yourself to be a citizen of Earth first rather than a citizen of your country.

You are a Moderate Capitalist. You support an economy that is by and large a free market, but has public programs to help people who can't help themselves or need a little help. Pretty much you believe in the American economy how it currently is.

You are libertarian. You think that the government is making way too many unnecessary laws that are taking away our innate rights. You believe that the government's job is primarily to protect people from harming other people, but after that they should mind their own business, and if we give the government too much power in controlling our lives, it can lead to fascism.

You're a Militarist. You believe that since the United States has so much power in the world, it has a responsibility to keep the world safe. You think that if the US does not exert its power in the world, it may eventually lose its power, and that we can not look weak in the face of terrorists, and must take them out where they live.


So, what have I learned? Mostly that I still don't put much stock in trying to put a name on my political stance. If anyone ever asks me what my political affiliation is I won't rattle off any of the above. I'll probably just say I'm a moderate, or that I have no party affiliation, or to mind their own darn business. Or possibly I'll set an American flag with a joint, commit some racial profiling, and say a prayer in a school, all at once, just to muddy the waters.

Labels: politics

If you really want to know what you are, just ask me...I'll tell you!  


I would but it creeps me out to hear you use the phrase, "Hotty Boom Botty." Seriously, dude, you're not a 13 year old girl. Stop talking like one.  


But like, it's so like, fun to say! Hotty Boom Botty! Whatev Patch....freakin Militarist.  


I'm sooooooooo bored by this post.  


I'm soooooooo gonna push you down a flight of stairs. Rickety ones.  


Moderate Conservative is where I "describe" my position, but I think you and I and a lot of other Christians are in the same boat right now.  


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