Political Spectrum

I took one of the ubiquitous Facebook quizes the other day about where I fall on the political spectrum.  I've decided to copy the questions here and perhaps have a detailed discussion about each question in days to come.

There are a lot of questions so I'll have to do a few at a time, hopefully those that are related.  Any other of our blog contributors, feel free to jump in and grab one or two.

Here they are...

Agree or Disagree:
1. Laws should restrict abortion in all or most cases.
2. Unions were indispensible in establishing the middle class.
3. In nearly every instance, the free market allocates resources most efficiently.
4. Public radio and television funded by the state provide a valuable service the citizens.
5. Some people should not be allowed to reproduce.
6. Access to healthcare is a right.
7. The rich should pay a higher tax rate than the middle class.
8. School science classes should teach intelligent design.
9. Marriage must be heralded for the important role it plays in society.
10. Sometimes war is necessary, even if it means you strike first.
11. Patriotism is an overrated quality.
12. Radio stations should be required to present balanced news coverage.
13. Government should do something about the increasing violence in video games.
14. If our leader meets with our enemies, it makes us appear weak.
15. We must use our military from time to time to protect our supply of oil, to avoid a national crisis.
16. Strong gun ownership rights protect the people against tyranny.
17. It makes no sense to say 'I'm spiritual but not religious.'
18. It is not government's responsibility to regulate pollution.
19. Gay marriage should be forbidden.
20. It should be against the law to use hateful language toward another racial group.
21. Government should ensure that all citizens meet a certain minimum standard of living.
22. It is wrong to enforce moral behavior through the law because this infringes upon an individual's freedom.
23. Immigration restrictions are economically protectionist. Non-citizens should be allowed to sell their labor domestically at a rate the market will pay.
24. An official language should be set, and immigrants should have to learn it.
25. Whatever maximizes economic growth is good for the people.
26. Racial issues will never be resolved. It is human nature to prefer one's own race.
27. People with a criminal history should not be able to vote.
28. Marijuana should be legal.
29. The state should fine television stations for broadcasting offensive language.
30. It does not make sense to understand the motivations of terrorists because they are self-evidently evil.
31. The lower the taxes, the better off we all are.
32. Minority groups that have faced discrimination should receive help from the state to get on an equal footing.
33. It is wrong to question a leader in wartime.
34. Tighter regulation would have prevented the collapse of the lending industry.
35. It makes sense and is fair that some people make much more money than others.
36. Toppling enemy regimes to spread democracy will make the world a safer place.
37. The state has no business regulating alcohol and tobacco products.
38. If an unwed teen becomes pregnant, abortion may be a responsible choice.
39. International trade agreements should require environmental protections and workers' rights. (meaning: no free trade with countries that lack pollution controls or labor protections)
40. Gay equality is a sign of progress.
41. The state should be able to put a criminal to death if the crime was serious enough.
42. The military budget should be scaled back.
43. Economic competition results in inumerable innovations that improve all of our lives.
44. It is not our place to condemn other cultures as backwards or barbaric.
45. When one group is slaughtering another group somewhere in the world, we have a responsibility to intervene.
46. We'd be better off if we could just lock up some of the people expressing radical political views, and keep them away from society.
47. Unrestrained capitalism cannot last, as wealth and power will concentrate to a small elite.
48. It is a problem when young people display a lack of respect for authority.
49. When corporate interests become too powerful, the state should take action to ensure the public interest is served.
50. A person's morality is of the most personal nature; therefore government should have no involvement in moral questions or promote moral behaviors.
51. The state should not set a minimum wage.
52. A nation's retirement safety net cannot be trusted to the fluctuations of the stock market.
53. Offensive or blasphemous art should be suppressed.