Name: Tess Thompson
Home: St. Louis
Election Roundup
Wondering where you fit on the political spectrum (or spectra)? Take the "World's Smallest Political Quiz." It told me that (gasp!) I'm a liberal. According to the Washington Post, "The quiz has gained respect as a valid measure of a person's political leanings."
*
John Kerry has come under fire for saying, "You know, education -- if you make the most of it, you study hard and you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." Now, when I read his comment in the paper this morning, it was pretty clear to me he was obliquely insulting the President--but as I read it again, it was also clear that the words could be easily misconstrued to imply that people serving in Iraq are stupid. Kerry's defense that he was making a "botched joke" rings true, but at the same time I wish he hadn't given Repulicans that opening a week before the election. Kerry apologized today to any servicemen and servicewomen he might have offended, but the Republicans have seized on his words and are indignantly using them against the Democrats.
*
In talking with Kaela last night, I was reminded about how much of the upcoming elections are local or regional. Here in Missouri, we're hearing nonstop about embryonic stem cell research (more on that later); evidently in Pennsylvania, thanks to the New Jersey Supreme Court's recent ruling, they're hearing a lot about gay marriage. In Missouri, we have a crucial Senate race in a dead heat; in Pennsylvania, the Senate fight between Bob Casey and Rick Santorum is being closely watched. Other states have a range of issues on the ballot, and the one I'll be following most closely is the abortion ban in South Dakota. The idea that a state--even one I've never been to--could ban abortion even in cases of rape or incest chills me.
*
Two interesting pieces from Slate: In the first, Michael Kinsley eases the consciences of people who vote a straight party ticket. In the second, readers are challenged to match the steamy fictional scenes with the politicians who wrote them. It turns out that any fiction you write can and will be used against you if you choose to run for public office.
*
John Kerry has come under fire for saying, "You know, education -- if you make the most of it, you study hard and you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." Now, when I read his comment in the paper this morning, it was pretty clear to me he was obliquely insulting the President--but as I read it again, it was also clear that the words could be easily misconstrued to imply that people serving in Iraq are stupid. Kerry's defense that he was making a "botched joke" rings true, but at the same time I wish he hadn't given Repulicans that opening a week before the election. Kerry apologized today to any servicemen and servicewomen he might have offended, but the Republicans have seized on his words and are indignantly using them against the Democrats.
*
In talking with Kaela last night, I was reminded about how much of the upcoming elections are local or regional. Here in Missouri, we're hearing nonstop about embryonic stem cell research (more on that later); evidently in Pennsylvania, thanks to the New Jersey Supreme Court's recent ruling, they're hearing a lot about gay marriage. In Missouri, we have a crucial Senate race in a dead heat; in Pennsylvania, the Senate fight between Bob Casey and Rick Santorum is being closely watched. Other states have a range of issues on the ballot, and the one I'll be following most closely is the abortion ban in South Dakota. The idea that a state--even one I've never been to--could ban abortion even in cases of rape or incest chills me.
*
Two interesting pieces from Slate: In the first, Michael Kinsley eases the consciences of people who vote a straight party ticket. In the second, readers are challenged to match the steamy fictional scenes with the politicians who wrote them. It turns out that any fiction you write can and will be used against you if you choose to run for public office.
posted by Tess | 1:12 PM
3 Comments:
Tess, did you notice that the quiz you mention is a libertarian recruitment tool? But at least you avoid the libertarian answers on the "economic" section. I do have one STRONG objection, which is that agreeing with "End 'corporate welfare.' No government handouts to business." counts against being "liberal." Huh? All the liberals I know are pretty hostile to corporate welfare. It is pro-business conservatives who have generally strongest in support of government handouts to business, not liberals. So I guess I find this particular question problematic, to put it mildly.
Also, you may notice that the position opposite of libertarian on the chart is called "statist-big government." Hmmm...nice trick of wording and framing the results. When I studied political science many years ago in college, the traditional term for the opposite of libertarian was called "populist" on this four-way chart dividing economic and social issues, which (contrary to the what is implied by this quiz's designers) has been used by political surveyors for many decades now.
Okay, readers, don't all go out and become libertarian because I sent you to a libertarian web site.
That quiz seems to be telling me what I already know: I'm a left-leaning centrist. I wonder if there's anyone who's shocked by their true political orientation.
And I kind of envy those living in states with some kind of electoral action. Here it's all the same as always: no special issues, and the dems are practically guaranteed to get the seat.
Post a Comment
<< Home