Left/Center-Left/Center-Right/Right

[Person Man]

Although, I always thought that "right" meant maintain policy and "left" meant change it and "hard right" meant to repeal a policy.

Not for the purposes of this test.  That would apply to a literal interpretation of the words liberal and conservative, though.

Abortion
Left: Support the right to choose; oppose all or most restrictions
Center-Left: Support the right to choose; support some restrictions such as PBA ban
Center: Keep legal in first trimester, and for emergencies afterwards
Center-Right: Only legal for emergencies, and support most restrictions
Right: Support all commonly proposed restrictions as well as a ban on all abortions except for the woman's life

I was going to go through each of them, but got bored with this already.   Although I will say on D.C. Statehood that leftwing is to support it and rightwing is to keep the status quo of taxation without representation.

So, everything through center would be nominally "pro-choice" on abortion? I guess it makes sense, though that analysis might offend religious republicans, catholics and conservative humanists.

...and it is kinda "dumbing down" the discourse to think of liberal and conservative in this manner because the meanings are blurred. Maybe a progressive to reactionary lexicon would beef up the language and sophistication of our national political discourse.

[Ebowed]

I've always thought that the term "reactionary" was rather derogatory.  Left and right seem more neutral.

I don't really care if the analysis offends religious republicans, catholics, or "conservative humanists."  The center is nominally pro-choice.  Even I would have told you that when I was a hardcore pro-lifer.  Although this has to do more with the center not wanting to turn back rights or change the status quo on a social issue than actively supporting the right to abortion.

[Person Man]

Yeah, the makes sense. Do you think there would be a major reaction if there was a major change in abortion jurisprudence. Would that be seen as a last straw by the center or simply accepted as part of change? Many people tell me different things, mostly the former though.

[Ebowed]

They wouldn't favor a complete overturn of Roe, but they'd support a gradual chipping away through Casey and Carhart and so on.  If abortion were illegal nationwide today, the center position would be what is currently 'center right': only supportive for rape, incest, life.  Maybe health of the woman too.

[Person Man]

What I was asking is what would happen if Roe is overturned. Would that cause a reaction? Would that change the debate?

[Everett]

Abortion - Left
Affirmative Action - Right
Artwork Funding - Center
Assault Weapons Ban - Right
Campaign Finance Reform - Left
Capital Punishment - Left
Concealed Carry - Right
D.C. Statehood - Left
Defense Funding - Left
Environment - Left
Euthanasia - Left
Faith Based Initiatives - Left
Farm Subsidies - Right
Flag Burning Amendment -  Left
Gay Adoption - Left
Gay Marriage - Left
Minimum Wage - Right
School Vouchers - Left
Racial Profiling - Left
United Nations - Left
War on Iraq - Left

[Person Man]

Abortion - Left
Affirmative Action - Right
Artwork Funding - Center
Assault Weapons Ban - Right
Campaign Finance Reform - Left
Capital Punishment - Left
Concealed Carry - Right
D.C. Statehood - Left
Defense Funding - Left
Environment - Left
Euthanasia - Left
Faith Based Initiatives - Left
Farm Subsidies - Right
Flag Burning Amendment -  Left
Gay Adoption - Left
Gay Marriage - Left
Minimum Wage - Right
School Vouchers - Left
Racial Profiling - Left
United Nations - Left
War on Iraq - Left

Left-Libertarian?

[Person Man]

...and you are not a fundie? Lol.


Although, I always thought that "right" meant maintain policy and "left" meant change it and "hard right" meant to repeal a policy.


Abortion - right (maintain policy)
Affirmative Action- Center-left (tweak policy)
Artwork Funding- center (slightly tweak policy)
Assault Weapons Ban- right (maintain policy)
Campaign Finance Reform- (left- change policY)
Capital Punishment- (left- change policy)
Concealed Carry- (center- continue to change policy)
D.C. Statehood (left- change policy)
Defense Funding (center- tweak policy)
Environment (center- tweak policy)
Euthanasia (left- change policy)
Faith Based Initiatives (center-right- allow changes that have been made of late, but maintain policy thereafter)
Farm Subsidies- (left- change policy)
Flag Burning Amendment (right- maintain policy)
Gay Adoption (left- change policy)
Gay Marriage (center-right- maintain policy from drastic change while tweaking it)
Medicare/Medicaid (left- change policy)
Minimum Wage (center- continue to tweak policy)
School Vouchers (center- tweak policy)
Racial Profiling (left- change policy)
United Nations (center-right- tweak policy whilst be vigilant from radical departure)
War on Iraq (left- change policy)
 
So I guess I am 10-9-5, slightly left of center, but not by much.

If my answers make me a fundie, by your standards your a communist, but I suggest instead you just stop trolling the boards

Ummm...you're 2-0-22, pretty much in the right most 10% of the population. You only comprimise on the 8th amendment and Iraq and push until there is no tommorow on everything else. I am 13-8-3. Center-right on almost as many issues that I am left. Maybe in the left most 30%. Liberal, yes....radical...I guess if you complain about the politics of everyone left of like John McCain or Fred Thompson. Probably at the intersection of the DLC, DCFC and the Progressive Caucus. You basically are the type that has the RNC platform as your bible, except when you think it doesn't go far enough. 

[Alcon]

You seemed to be what has been happening in America of late. You went from a John McCain-like character to someone who is more or less dead center.

I guess, although most things I changed on are third-tier issues to me.  Or, like abortion, issues that I hate profoundly and can see strong arguments for both extremes but not much for the middle.

And now the Alcon Show is over. 

[Person Man]

You seemed to be what has been happening in America of late. You went from a John McCain-like character to someone who is more or less dead center.

I guess, although most things I changed on are third-tier issues to me.  Or, like abortion, issues that I hate profoundly and can see strong arguments for both extremes but not much for the middle.

And now the Alcon Show is over. 

Yeah, really nasty issues will never be resolved, that's probably why the Homosexual debate will come and go within a couple of decades like segragation, but abortion and guns will stay around forever.

[NDN]

Abortion - Left
Affirmative Action - Right
Artwork Funding - Center
Assault Weapons Ban - Right
Campaign Finance Reform - Left
Capital Punishment - Left
Concealed Carry - Right
D.C. Statehood - Left
Defense Funding - Left
Environment - Left
Euthanasia - Left
Faith Based Initiatives - Left
Farm Subsidies - Right
Flag Burning Amendment -  Left
Gay Adoption - Left
Gay Marriage - Left
Minimum Wage - Right
School Vouchers - Left
Racial Profiling - Left
United Nations - Left
War on Iraq - Left

Left-Libertarian?

I'd say so. Looks almost identical to my responses.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Abortion-Center Left
Affirmative Action-Center Right
Artwork Funding-Left
Assault Weapons Ban-Center Left
Campaign Finance Reform-Right
Capital Punishment-Center Right
Concealed Carry-Center Left
D.C. Statehood-Right
Defense Funding-Right
Environment-Left
Euthanasia-Left
Faith Based Initiatives-Left
Farm Subsidies-Left
Flag Burning Amendment-Left
Gay Adoption-Left
Gay Marriage-Left
Medicare/Medicaid-Left
Minimum Wage-Left
School Vouchers-Center Right
Racial Profiling-Left
United Nations-Left
War on Iraq-Center Left

[NDN]

I've had a slight conservative shift:

Abortion: Center-Left. Ideally it should be legal on demand for the first 2 trimesters, and legal for emergencies after.
Affirmative Action: Center-Right. Race based affirmative action is unconstitutional.
Artwork Funding: Right. Leave to private charity and business.
Assault Weapons Ban: Right. It did nothing to reduce violent crime. Actually pretty much all federal gun control laws are bogus. Leave it to the states, please.
Campaign Finance Reform: Left. Public Financing would be ideal.
Capital Punishment: Left. It's unevenly applied, costly, and the risks are too great. As much as I think some people should be shot, I now think we need to abolish it.
Concealed Carry: Center-Right. For those who pass background checks.
D.C. Statehood: Right. Taxation without representation anyone?
Defense Funding: Center-Left. Cut pork and close various overseas bases.
Environment: Center? We need Aggressive Alternative Energy R&D, Public Transport, and an Increase in CAFE standards. But I also agree with building more Nuclear Power Plants, drilling in ANWR and building as many refineries as possible. I also think Kyoto was bullsh**t...
Euthanasia: Left. It's their body, their choice to end their suffering.
Faith Based Initiatives: Center-Right. They should be allowed to provide services, provided they don't try to use public funds to proselytize.
Farm Subsidies: Center-Right. Slash pork & waste. Limit to emergencies (e.g. insurance).
Flag Burning Amendment: Left. It would violate the 1st amendment.
Gay Adoption: Left. No good reason to oppose.
Gay Marriage: Left. See above. Also, bans are unconstitutional.
Medicare/Medicaid: Center-Left. Abolish and replace with Universal Healthcare (Swiss Style).
Minimum Wage: Center-Right. No further raises; Minimum Wage is needed but has draw backs.
School Vouchers: Right. Vouchers are a good idea but we should make sure that participating schools do not discriminate.
Racial Profiling: Left. It is obviously both unfair and unconstitutional.
United Nations: Right. Get out of it. NOW.
War on Iraq: Center-Left. Invading was a colossal Mistake. Partition Iraq and withdraw.

[JSojourner]

Abortion    Left
Affirmative Action  Left
Artwork Funding  Left center
Assault Weapons Ban  Left
Campaign Finance Reform Neutral -- still exploring
Capital Punishment  Left
Concealed Carry   Left to slightly left-center
D.C. Statehood   Left
Defense Funding   Left
Environment    Left
Euthanasia     Left-center
Faith Based Initiatives    Left
Farm Subsidies    Left-center
Flag Burning Amendment   Left
Gay Adoption    Left
Gay Marriage    Left
Medicare/Medicaid   Left
Minimum Wage    Left
School Vouchers   Left
Racial Profiling      Left
United Nations     Left-center
War on Iraq      Left


On some things, I say LEFT because I don't know what compromises might be possible or offerred. For example, I fully support the assault weapons ban.  If we're really talking about assault weapons.  I know some liberal anti-gun nuts that want to ban bolt action rifles and muzzleloaders.  I'm pretty lefty on the minimum wage, but you could get me to support more gradual and incremental wage hikes in some sectors involving small businesses.

So it's hard to say I am pure left on everything.  But pretty close, I guess!

[jeron]

I don't know exactly what is considered left or right in the US on these issues. Over here, abortion, gay marriage and euthanasia e.g. are also supported by the right.

Abortion    Left
Affirmative Action   Centre left
Artwork Funding   Centre left. Some funding.
Assault Weapons Ban   Left
Campaign Finance Reform   Neutral
Capital Punishment   Left
Concealed Carry   Left
D.C. Statehood   I think it should become a state. Is that left or right?
Defense Funding   Left
Environment   Left
Euthanasia   Left. If someone is going to die why do they have to go through these painful     last weeks.
Faith Based Initiatives   Left
Farm Subsidies   Left. Only for ecological agriculture.
Flag Burning Amendment  Left
Gay Adoption  Left
Gay Marriage  Left
Medicare/Medicaid   Left.
Minimum Wage  Centre left
School Vouchers   Left
Racial Profiling   Left
United Nations   Left
War on Iraq   Very Very Left

[NDN]

Abortion - Center Left. Should be legal but with restrictions for late term pregnancies.
Affirmative Action - Center Right/Right. Race based affirmative action is unconstitutional, replace it with income based preferences.
Artwork Funding - Right. Leave this to private individuals and foundations.
Assault Weapons Ban - Right. Utterly pointless and ineffective gun grabbing.
Campaign Finance Reform - Right. It's been ruled unconstitutional, do clean election laws instead.
Capital Punishment - Right. Death to child rapists and murderers. DNA evidence to eliminate risk.
Concealed Carry - Right. Allow law abiding citizens to protect themselves.
D.C. Statehood - Right. No taxation without representation.
Defense Funding - Center-Left. Close down unnecessary bases and cut R&D pork.
Environment - Center-Right. Enforce existing laws. Allow Nuclear Power, off-shore drilling, etc. No Kyoto.
Euthanasia - Left. Allow terminally ill to end their pain.
Faith Based Initiatives - Center-Right. Work with charities of all kinds to reduce poverty.
Farm Subsidies - Right. Stop wasting money on pork.
Flag Burning Amendment - Left. Unconstitutional.
Gay Adoption - Left. No reason not to allow it.
Gay Marriage - Left. No rational basis to ban it.
Medicare/Medicaid - Left. Implement Two-Tier Universal Healthcare.
Minimum Wage - Right. End at Federal Level, expand EITC.
School Vouchers - Right. End Public Education as we know it: Support Charter Schools and Vouchers; abolish Department of Education.
Racial Profiling - Left. Blatantly unconstitutional.
United Nations - Right. Useless in current form.
War on Iraq - Center-Left. Begin phased withdrawal.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I wish it had more economic issues, but eh.

Abortion -- right
Affirmative Action -- right
Artwork Funding -- center-right
Assault Weapons Ban -- left
Campaign Finance Reform -- neutral
Capital Punishment -- center-right
Concealed Carry -- neutral
D.C. Statehood -- center-left
Defense Funding -- center-left
Environment -- neutral
Euthanasia -- left
Faith Based Initiatives -- left
Farm Subsidies -- right
Flag Burning Amendment -- left
Gay Adoption -- left
Gay Marriage -- left
Medicare/Medicaid -- center-left
Minimum Wage -- center-right
School Vouchers -- center-right
Racial Profiling -- center-right
United Nations -- center-right
War on Iraq -- neutral

[NDN]

     I wish it had more economic issues, but eh.

You should make one that focuses on that.

[dead0man]

Assault Weapons Ban -- left

Why?

[DownWithTheLeft]

Awesome, this is from mid-2007 instead of like a month ago:

Abortion - hard right
Affirmative Action - hard right
Artwork Funding - hard right
Assault Weapons Ban - hard right
Campaign Finance Reform - hard right
Capital Punishment - hard left
Concealed Carry - hard right
D.C. Statehood - is this a left/right issue?
Defense Funding - hard right
Environment - hard right
Euthanasia - right
Faith Based Initiatives - right (way too broad)
Farm Subsidies - i want to abolish them
Flag Burning Amendment - hard right neutral
Gay Adoption - hard right right
Gay Marriage - hard right neutral
Medicare/Medicaid - hard right
Minimum Wage - hard right
School Vouchers - hard right
Racial Profiling - only for terrorist situations, so I guess neutral hard right
United Nations - hard right
War on Iraq - left neutral

I don't think it's that clear cut though
[/quote]

[NDN]

Guess liberty's just for the straight white man, huh?

[DownWithTheLeft]

Guess liberty's just for the straight white man, huh?

Not really.  The question asked about "gay marriage", I vehemently oppose gay marriage.  I am neutral on civil unions, although I personally oppose them.  Its funny how liberals think gays are so important but don't give a damn about innocent children

[NDN]

Guess liberty's just for the straight white man, huh?

Not really.  The question asked about "gay marriage", I vehemently oppose gay marriage.  I am neutral on civil unions, although I personally oppose them.

Never mind gay marriage. You have no logical argument against gay adoption. They are not going to molest their kids anymore than any other group. They're not going to 'turn them gay.' And no, 'they'll get picked on' isn't a valid argument either. If someone is getting picked on because their parent(s) are a minority you take that out on the people doing it, not the parents.

Its funny how liberals think gays are so important but don't give a damn about innocent children

I'm not a liberal. I do take issue with the idea that something that doesn't even have a brain yet is a 'child' worthy of more rights than actual adults. Like most sane americans.

Besides that you said racial profiling was OK. I don't know about anyone else, but I personally see the right to not be harassed because of the color of your skin to be a pretty basic civil liberty. If the cops are looking for a minority suspect that's fine but we should not be discriminating against people when a crime hasn't even been committed yet.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Assault Weapons Ban -- left

Why?

     Because assualt weapons have no place in a modern civilization. Handguns are necessary for self-defense. Assualt weapons might have a point if you were to be attacked by squads of say, 20-30 people.

[NDN]

Assault Weapons Ban -- left

Why?

     Because assualt weapons have no place in a modern civilization. Handguns are necessary for self-defense. Assualt weapons might have a point if you were to be attacked by squads of say, 20-30 people.

'Assault weapons' are just guns that look like military weapons. But that doesn't make them anymore dangerous. The semi-automatic versions of military assault rifles actually use smaller calibers and less-powerful ammunition than many legal hunting rifles. You can't easily modify them either since NFA regulations make that nearly impossible to do.

That and the vast majority of gun crime involves hand guns.