Still there, but teetering on the edge.Have you in actual fact left the square completely?
I dare not fall off.
There be dragons below!
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Your beliefs, your politics
- Thread starter Secret Chief
- Start date
I dare not fall off.
There be dragons below!
PureX
Veteran Member
These are good questions, but too broad for me. It would take me a long tome to try and answer them honestly, and clearly.
I think my political beliefs flow from compassion.
I would probably have difficulty answering political questions, but imagine i’d be somewhere in the left lower quadrant
Secret Chief
nirvana is samsara
I'll start a thread on it then.
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
My life philosophy infers my political views; liberty, reason, and compassion (I often suck at being a good example.)
Secret Chief
nirvana is samsara
There is, I think, some common ground between secular Buddhism and democratic socialism. Both address the unsatisfactoriness of life - its cause and the means of its resolution. Buddhism focusses on the individual's praxis (initially at least) - change the individuals and then that changes society. Socialism on the other hand focusses on issues at the macro level - change society and then that changes the individuals that compose it.
exchemist
Veteran Member
Yes I know. However I take issue with Political Compass in a number of ways. I did their test and came out in the bottom left quadrant, where nobody in Europe who knows me would place me.
Their characterisation of the Left/Right axis strikes me as quite wrong and far too simplistic, for a start. They seem to equate it to a simple free market vs. command economy spectrum, leaving out views on the family, the social order, the church and other institutions, the military, and much else besides.
I can only conclude that American politics (I assume Political Compass is American) has come to use these terms in a way that Europeans would barely recognise.
Thatcher was an economic liberal, i.e. a free marketer, and as I recall she was not particularly authoritarian socially. She is believed to be by the Left, because she cut back trade union power and was involved in suppressing the riots that resulted from that. Thatcher was the first Conservative I voted for, as a young man fairly fresh out of college, and I voted for her more than once, in fact. I think she did the country a lot of good. So it seems bizarre that I come out on this diagram as diametrically opposed to her position.
I am as interested in politics as Jesus was......he actually told us to be "NO part of the world"....so I am politically neutral like he was. (John 15:18-21; John 18:36) He told us who is running the show down here. (1 John 5:19)
Humans have been in the process of demonstrating that they are hopeless at ruling themselves and taking care of the only planet we have.
I believe that they will answer to our 'Landlord' for that.....
Humans have been in the process of demonstrating that they are hopeless at ruling themselves and taking care of the only planet we have.
I believe that they will answer to our 'Landlord' for that.....
My lack of any religious belief is separate from any political belief I might have. This tends towards the Left since it makes the most sense for me, and also to those more thinking individuals from whom I might have gained any knowledge. My suspicions about those more right-wing comes from there not being a substantial intellectual foundation for such and/or just looking at those most likely to vote for right-wing policies.
I suspect many countries, such as the UK mostly, are more right-wing because of voting for their own particular interests so often (rather than for the benefit of all) and the inevitable drive for people to do better in life, hence acquiring more, and as one does so (and as one gets older) to want to hold on to such. Hence the reason why so many older tend to vote for right-wing values and those younger doing the opposite.
But just a few thoughts since I'm not sure any of this is correct - my natural inclination away from politics is rather high.
I suspect many countries, such as the UK mostly, are more right-wing because of voting for their own particular interests so often (rather than for the benefit of all) and the inevitable drive for people to do better in life, hence acquiring more, and as one does so (and as one gets older) to want to hold on to such. Hence the reason why so many older tend to vote for right-wing values and those younger doing the opposite.
But just a few thoughts since I'm not sure any of this is correct - my natural inclination away from politics is rather high.
Jedster
Well-Known Member
I am apolitical. I just cannot assign myself to what I see as group-think.
I do vote when voting takes places and read up on the issues at the time as well as the individuals standing.
I am a dual national(British/Israeli) and am presently living back in England where I was born.
The only people that really p*ss me off are those who have never been religious, but nevertheless use their born religion to further their political beliefs.
I am referring to many people who advertise their Jewishness AND who are virulently anti-Israel. I have several former friends in this category.
"Hey, look at me I am a Jew and hate Israel"
"Ok, when did you last lay tephillin?"
Sorry for the semi-rant.
You shan't disagree with Political Compass.
They have a website with graphs.
Secret Chief
nirvana is samsara
It puts me way down along the libertarian axis, which I find very surprising to say the least.
Yes, my religous beliefs certainly do inform my political and social beliefs, and vice versa. From my ethnic polytheism, I derive a tribalist, nationalist view of society along with a deep concern and respect for indigenous cultures and the natural world. From this, I also believe that life is best lived simply and honorably with a strong focus on what is local to you. Self-responsilbility is a big part of the Heathen way of conducting yourself, so ultimately you have to rely on yourself and reap the consequences for your own acrions. There are no saviors in my worldview. My Left-Hand Path orientation goes along rather nicely with my rather harsh views on human nature and inherent human inequality.
If you had to place me in a political ideology, it would be along the lines of the French Nouvelle Droite (New Right) and Third Position (minus the racialism that you sometimes find there, although I'm okay with ethnic nationalism).
If you had to place me in a political ideology, it would be along the lines of the French Nouvelle Droite (New Right) and Third Position (minus the racialism that you sometimes find there, although I'm okay with ethnic nationalism).
Milton Platt
Well-Known Member
I wish everyone would critically examine this subject. Thanks so much for raising the question. Everyone has a bias. The problem is that everyone does not recognize and admit their bias.
Secret Chief
nirvana is samsara
Thank you. I was prompted by some comments I'd read and realised that I'd never thought about the two together before in respect of my own politics and beliefs.
I'd classify your quadrant (more social liberty, less economic
liberty) as "liberal" (N Ameristanian sense of the term).
The Libertarian Party (USA or Canuckistan) would be
in the lower right (purple) quadrant.
There is some disagreement about this (from some liberals).
I prefer the Nolan Chart.
Caution: one axis is flipped & rotated 90
degrees from the Political Compass chart.
Last edited:
A less useful chart...
Milton Platt
Well-Known Member
I'd classify your quadrant (more social liberty, less economic
liberty) as "liberal" (N Ameristanian sense of the term).
The Libertarian Party (USA or Canuckistan) would be
in the lower right (purple) quadrant.
There is some disagreement about this (from some liberals).
I prefer the Nolan Chart.
Caution: one axis is flipped & rotated 90
degrees from the Political Compass chart.
Well, thanks for this......Now am I not totally confused where others stand, But I don't even know where I stand......damn you!!!!!!