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carolinayellowdog

(3,247 posts)

28. all good points, thanks, perhaps "authoritarian" implies more consistency than is appropriate

Tue Jun 3, 2014, 02:24 PM

Jun 2014

That is, partisans who think "massive government surveillance is not dangerous because my party is in power and will not abuse it" simply can't think ahead 3 years to a possible Republican president and Congress. Or 30 years ahead to something far worse. It is very hard for me to imagine any Democrat thinking the NSA is a harmless instrument no matter what faction is in control of government.

If under future Republican governments there are gulags in our future for reeducation, I suspect the "NSA is dangerous and should be reigned in now" folks will be rubbing shoulders there with our "you silly Chicken Little, we have a fine and trustworthy Democratic president so STOP ATTACKING HIM" colleagues.

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authoritarian, libertarian, right, left-- what quadrant of the Political Compass are you in? [View all] carolinayellowdog Jun 2014 OP

I've taken that test a few times over the years. The_Commonist Jun 2014 #1

I've also done it a few times, always in the green tularetom Jun 2014 #2

What is called "libertarian" here could be better classified as respect for basic human rights. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #9

Yeah, I'm always near -7 & -7. "Libertarian" is a slur in DU... Eleanors38 Jun 2014 #19

Thanks to Ron Paul and his calf head son, Libertarian, with the big L, is taking a beating. Whisp Jun 2014 #20

I still like the terms "civil libertarian" and "economic progressive," Eleanors38 Jun 2014 #22

I agree with your overall point that the terms authoritarian and libertarian are overused on DU stevenleser Jun 2014 #3

Not sure why you believe this test gives an accurate or meaningful result. winter is coming Jun 2014 #4

"probably still skews that way" is an unjustified assumption of yours muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #5

Whoosh. winter is coming Jun 2014 #7

I never said there was anything 'off-base' about putting them upper-right muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #15

You're right. I should have dug a little deeper before commenting. winter is coming Jun 2014 #18

Do you really think Obama took this test or the pope Johonny Jun 2014 #36

developed by a leftist British social historian and political journalist carolinayellowdog Jun 2014 #6

This message was self-deleted by its author LeftishBrit Jun 2014 #11

I don't think so LeftishBrit Jun 2014 #12

I do wish they had defined the terms instead of merely using them. winter is coming Jun 2014 #14

I was a political compass quiz virgin... DreamGypsy Jun 2014 #8

Good point about "strongly" term. Eleanors38 Jun 2014 #21

In the UK, 'libertarian' used to mean civil libertarian, and economic libertarianism was called LeftishBrit Jun 2014 #10

It's the same in the US. What we have here is an intersection of ignorance and duplicity. Romulox Jun 2014 #31

Economic -7.5; Social -6.82 LeftishBrit Jun 2014 #13

The simple problem my friend is this Savannahmann Jun 2014 #16

all good points, thanks, perhaps "authoritarian" implies more consistency than is appropriate carolinayellowdog Jun 2014 #28

A little to the left & a touch more "libertarian" than Gandhi... Eleanors38 Jun 2014 #17

That's a fascinating ngram. woo me with science Jun 2014 #23

thanks, inspired by your previous posts about "authoritarian" as a term carolinayellowdog Jun 2014 #24

Ah yes, the Nolan chart, again. ucrdem Jun 2014 #25

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #26

Lefty me damnedifIknow Jun 2014 #27

Hrm. have I changed? I moved further left? Xyzse Jun 2014 #29

Same place as always MicaelS Jun 2014 #30

Left Libertarian hack89 Jun 2014 #32

So many DUers tend toward that top right quadrant. Can't we just ban the word "authoritarian"? nt Romulox Jun 2014 #33

Economic Left/Right: -9.50 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -8.97 frylock Jun 2014 #34

Everytime I take it, I end up somewhere between -9.50 and -10.00 on both axes. NuclearDem Jun 2014 #35

About what I expected opiate69 Jun 2014 #37

Libertarian in the U.S. is RIGHT-WING kfreed Aug 2014 #38