One-sided Forum?

[ClearWest]

Some people seem to think that there are more right-wing viewpoints on this forum than there are left-wing viewpoints. I see a slight slant to the right, but it seems more balanced than some people make it out to be. So, I decided to conduct a poll. Hopefully this will shed some light on the issue.

What do you consider yourself? What do your viewpoints most resemble on the forums. That of a right-winger, left-winger, centrist, or none of the above?

Also, please add reply to this thread to let us know what you think. Do you think it's a little one-sided? Do you see more lefties or righties?

Bytheway, I didn't add this to the poll (because I wanted to keep it simple to get the best scope of the data) but do you see more moderates or extremists?

I'm interested in hearing your opinions.

[gerryhatrick]

I'm interested in hearing your opinions.

Can you clarify the question?

The question in your topic title is different than the one appearing above the poll.

[ClearWest]

I'm interested in hearing your opinions.

Can you clarify the question?

The question in your topic title is different than the one appearing above the poll.

Sure no problem. The question on the poll is for statistical reference. Are you a righty or lefty or centrist or none? The question for posters is, do you think that the forums are one-sided, and in whose favour?

The poll questions is to support the opinions presented in the posts.

[gerryhatrick]

Sure no problem. The question on the poll is for statistical reference. Are you a righty or lefty or centrist or none? The question for posters is, do you think that the forums are one-sided, and in whose favour?

So you're asking two questions...one reflected in the topic title and a completely different one in the actual poll.

You say the question for posters is "do you think the forums are one-sided, and in whose favor?".

I would say there are more rightwing posters here than center-left.

[Leafless]

I'am a centrist.

I think most centrist on this board represent a moderate and realistic view concerning a left/right stance regarding most political issue's.

I can't say the same for a lot of lefties on this board who's views are unrealistic and swing so far left that it makes no sense in even replying to most of their unattainable and ridiculous views.

A separate issue though in my mind is Quebec who's demands confuse left/right ideologies and have to be dealt with in a separate light especially relating to language policies and Quebec ideologies that I think cause even further confusion.

In my view multiculturalism also presents a troubling aspect concerning differentiating between normal Canadian left/right politics with the additional views of unreasonable cultural concerns but yet sometimes protected by Charter rights.

What exactly is left and right in Canada is becoming I think very troublesome and maybe even isn't applicable anymore.

[jdobbin]

I throw right but I kick left.

[August1991]

According to a November Washington Post poll (whose results were published in February), 94 percent of Americans said they are "above average" in honesty, 89 percent "above average" in common sense, 86 percent "above average" in intelligence, and 79 percent "above average" in looks. [Washington Post-AP, 2-5-06] [Washington Post, 2-8-06]

Link

Your thread is badly worded. First, many people describe themselves as centrist when others would say otherwise. Second, as noted above, you confuse two questions: peoples view of themselves and their view of this forum.

IMHO, this forum has a good mix although it would be nice to have an articulate Leftist or two more.

Incidentally, you can see a mapping of posters' opinions here. If you do the test and then post your results in that thread, I'll include them the next time I update the graph.

[Remiel]

I hope to be one of those articulate Leftists one day, hopefully sooner than later. I think that these forums tend to be centre-right. At least on the bright side, arguing the less popular angles, the hotter the fire, the better the steel.

[gc1765]

Compared to the rest of this board, I would consider myself left-wing. But only because this board is pretty right wing (I think it has shifted a little more to the center recently, it seems like it was more right wing a few months ago but I could be wrong). In general, I'd say I'm a centrist. Socially I am very liberal, financially I am center or even center-right. I like the fact that it's mostly righ wingers here, it gives me a challenge. No sense debating with myself right? At the same time I hope the right wingers on this board appreciate the few left wingers on here, otherwise they'd have no one to debate either.

[ClearWest]

Your thread is badly worded. First, many people describe themselves as centrist when others would say otherwise. Second, as noted above, you confuse two questions: peoples view of themselves and their view of this forum.

People's view of the forum is the main question at hand. The reason why I asked how people viewed themselves is because I was hoping for some form of demographics in relation to the actual amount of lefties/righties (according to each person's opinion of themselves).

If people describe themselves as centrists, let them. It's not up to you and me. I think it's more appropriate for people to lable themselves individually than it is for people to vote about what they think the general picture of the forum is (More left/ More right, for example).

Most people who have a basic grasp of politics are able to distinguish whether their views are right/left/centrist. If they feel that they are none of those they can select 'none of the above'. I'm sorry if my poll isn't the political compass, but I hope it at least provides some insight about the state of the forums today.

[geoffrey]

Everyone thinks they are a centrist.

I would label this forum as slightly leaning to the right, though we do have some powerful voices on the left.

[Charles Anthony]

People's view of the forum is the main question at hand.

The forum demonstrates to me that the divide between "right" and "left" is making less and less sense in the world.

I find that most lively debated threads make it very difficult to pigeon-hole members with any consistent label.

Everyone thinks they are a centrist.

I think that is a direct result of the old-fashioned stereotypes not providing solutions to today's problems and people are moving past their limitations. Dealing with environmental issues is one of the best illustrations.

[Figleaf]

l

Edited July 18, 2007 by Figleaf

[Rue]

Some people seem to think that there are more right-wing viewpoints on this forum than there are left-wing viewpoints. I see a slight slant to the right, but it seems more balanced than some people make it out to be. So, I decided to conduct a poll. Hopefully this will shed some light on the issue.

What do you consider yourself? What do your viewpoints most resemble on the forums. That of a right-winger, left-winger, centrist, or none of the above?

Also, please add reply to this thread to let us know what you think. Do you think it's a little one-sided? Do you see more lefties or righties?

Bytheway, I didn't add this to the poll (because I wanted to keep it simple to get the best scope of the data) but do you see more moderates or extremists?

I'm interested in hearing your opinions.

Well I find both left and right wingers on these posts and then people like me stuck in the middle and getting on everyone's nerves equally. I personally think both the left and right of the equation are both doing good jobs arguing their positions.

[jbg]

I throw right but I kick left.

I am an extreme left-winger. Slightly to the left of Jack Layton and Noam Chomsky.

[Remiel]

Socialism is the left-wing companion of conservatism, not fascism. Communism is the left-wing companion of fascism.

Strangely enough, and perhaps it was the same in the ideological textbook from the library I read back in high school, when I think of the political spectrum, socialists and communists are on the right side of my mental image, and conservatives and fascists are on the left side. I do think the right-wingers back in the day consciously chose to call themselves right and their opponents left, because of the age old association of " good " with the right and " bad " with the left. In that context, it makes some sense that I picture the left on the right side of my mental diagram, because I claim to be left-wing, thus left is " good " (right) and right is " bad " (left). Strange, I know.

[M.Dancer]

I throw right but I kick left.

I am an extreme left-winger. Slightly to the left of Jack Layton and Noam Chomsky.

I play defence

[Figleaf]

bye

Edited July 18, 2007 by Figleaf

[M.Dancer]

Socialism is the left-wing companion of conservatism, not fascism. Communism is the left-wing companion of fascism.

Not in my opinion; even more extreme that mere fascism is theocracy.

Expalin how the Vatican or Norway is more extreme than Fascist Spain or italy......

[Michael Hardner]

The forum demonstrates to me that the divide between "right" and "left" is making less and less sense in the world.

I find that most lively debated threads make it very difficult to pigeon-hole members with any consistent label.

I agree wholeheartedly, Charles.

The ideas of 'right' and 'left' are more fluid with time than most realize. Marx framed his discussions around the industrial revolution and projected the situation then across all of history. Certainly there's some truth there, but not universal truth. Socially conservative viewpoints are shared by right-ists and left-ists in certain areas, as are viewpoints on economics.

The computer revolution has made decentralization a major shaping force in society, so it's time for us to stop looking in the rear view mirror and look forward to the world (or country if you prefer) that we want to create.

I'm thinking that the person who answered 'none of the above' got it right.

[Figleaf]

ll

Edited July 18, 2007 by Figleaf

[jbg]

I throw right but I kick left.

I am an extreme left-winger. Slightly to the left of Jack Layton and Noam Chomsky.

I play defence

Unless you go offside.

[Remiel]

Theocracy does not fall within the standard political spectrum, as generally speaking it does possess an economic component. Besides, I could imagine a communist theocracy.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

The traditional political views of left and right will eventually lose their distinction as society wakes up and begins its inevitable evolution into sustained and enhanced democratic reforms. To date the only country working toward the improvement of the human condition in political terms is Switzerland. Direct Democracy is their chosen means of political evolutionary progress and it serves them well. The Swiss are affiliated with nobody, and remain at or near the top of the list of the best places in the world to live. Their standard of living is higher than ours by far.

Each nation must find its own way of course and what works for them may not work for others, but the point is that efforts need to be made to improve the human condition. Society needs to clean up its act, within their own nation first and then in voluntary international assistance.

While some may suggest that the function of the UN is to provide the political vehicle to achieve just that. I however do not believe that at all. The Security Council and its veto powers are by definition anti-democratic and therefore decidedly contrary to the evolving interests of society. Religous and economic considerations form political bastions from which entire nations become enslaved, and the means to improve the human condition becomes null and void at that point because the enslaved citizens have no effective voice. The Unitied Nations are not by any means united at all, in fact the UN is merely a political forum for theatrics.

Humanity needs to realize that since the creation of the corporation politics has devolved to a certain degree and that citizens are in fact becoming wage slaves subject to the economic will of their employment masters. Even Marx, the idealistic fool that he was, could see the impact on society of unchecked capitalism. Communism was a failed concept because it failed to take into account the human factor of ambition and effort. Capitalism is based on just that, ambition and effort. Unfortunately this superior economic model has also wormed its way into politics which has caused an entirely unexpected result of corporate governance. The transnational corporations now have immense political influence not subject to the will of the citizens, and this little fact has implications to our society that have yet to be addressed.

The so called laws of supply and demand have now dictated a political and economic direction that will eventually provide the means for the most populous nations to format the international economy through manipulation of market forces. As it stands now, China is well placed to become the next economic empire. Both the EU and the United States together have less market potential then China. This will take time, but rest assured that it will happen. Without a change in the current political direction it will take less than a generation and at that point massive confrontation becomes inevitable.

I doubt that many people view the situation as I do, I willingly admit to being out on a limb, off the beaten path and so forth. Be that as it may that is how I see this playing out, unless of course we seek to make changes beneficial to citizens. The citizens can save themselves but the politicians and entrepeneurs can't. Its all about the little political boxes will find ourselves in, when cardboard becomes concrete our thoughts become walls. We need to start thinking outside of the box.

[jbg]

As it stands now, China is well placed to become the next economic empire. Both the EU and the United States together have less market potential then China. This will take time, but rest assured that it will happen. Without a change in the current political direction it will take less than a generation and at that point massive confrontation becomes inevitable.

I agree with a lot of you analysis. On China though I believe they have a 1000 year history of being unable to get out of their own way. I don't see that changing. India has some potential, as a result of democratic traditions (albeit imported from Britain). Totalitarianism is a real obstacle to progress, since "telling it like it is" can have deleterious consequences beyond an angry boss and loss of a job.