I guess I should call it Left and Right instead. Sent from my iPad
On Oct 25, 2011, at 19:05, "David R. Block" <[email protected]> wrote: > If this is how the A, B, C lines up then I'm a flaming liberal. I find that > hard to believe. > > David > > "Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people > do is a swine."--P. J. O’Rourke > > On 10/25/2011 11:09 AM, Dr. Ernie Prabhakar wrote: >> >> Hi all, >> >> I've created a greatly condensed version of Billy's questionnaire. Check it >> out and let me know what you think. >> >> -- Ernie P. >> >> http://radicalcentrism.org/forum/ >> >> http://www.esurveyspro.com/Survey.aspx?id=b1f07ef1-22b6-4f22-98aa-fc513dcf77f3 >> >> Are you a Radical Centrist? >> >> >> 1. How valuable are opinions? >> Each person's opinion is equally valuable. >> Only the truth matters; differing opinions are unimportant. >> A small number of diverse, well-researched opinions is the best guide to >> truth. >> >> >> >> 2. What makes for a good policy? >> Government Policy should help the disadvantaged. >> Government Policy should maximize personal freedom. >> Government Policy should evolve based on an ongoing examination of the >> actual costs and benefits. >> >> >> >> 3. What kind of leaders should we vote for? >> Leaders who will help the government get more done. >> Leaders who will shrink the government. >> Leaders who will break with party ideology to find the best possible >> solutions. >> >> >> >> 4. Do you support i) teaching evolution, ii) stem cell research, iii) >> same-sex marriage, iv) abortion on demand, v) legalization of marijuana, and >> vi) amnesty for illegal immigrants? >> Yes, I support virtually all of these. >> No, I oppose virtually all of these. >> I support some of them, and my position may change based on more >> information. >> >> >> >> 5. What kind of speech should we encourage? >> We should speak carefully to avoid offending people. >> We should be free to say anything we believe is true. >> We are obligated to share important facts, even if they offend certain >> interest groups. >> >> >> >> 6. Who is to blame for our current economic problems? >> The upper 1% who use their money to corrupt politics. >> Big government, which distorts the functioning of the free market. >> Our rigid economic ideologies, which hinder fundamental reform. >> >> >> >> 7. Is the market fair? >> No; it tends to increase inequity and must therefore be regulated. >> Yes; at least fairer than government regulation would be. >> Sometimes; we need to guard against both market failure and regulatory >> failure. >> >> >> >> 8. Is environmentalism a good thing? >> Yes, we must protect our planet even if it hurts the economy. >> No, it is an overreaction which reduces employment and energy security. >> Only to the extent it acknowledges and encourages a rational and balanced >> energy policy. >> >> >> >> 9. Should we support Israel? >> Only if they grant full sovereignty and civil rights to the Palestinians. >> Absolutely, they are God's chosen people and/or our closest ally. >> Yes, but we must also seek peace and constructively criticize their >> government's mistakes. >> >> >> >> 10. How can we best achieve racial equality? >> By using affirmative action to undo historical wrongs. >> By acting completely color-blind in everything we do. >> By intervening to fix dysfunctional subcultures that hinder economic >> progress. >> >> >> >> 11. Should women always be treated the same as men? >> Absolutely, there are no important biological differences. >> Not entirely, we also need to acknowledge and respect traditional gender >> roles. >> Politically yes, but we must respect research that identifies fundamental >> differences between them. >> >> >> >> 12. Are all religions basically the same? >> Yes, they teach the same things though they differ in outward observances. >> No, I believe mine is correct and others are dangerous distortions. >> All religions contain varying amounts of truth; some are mostly benevolent >> while others explicitly encourage many kinds of immoral behavior. >> >> >> >> 13. Are Muslims dangerous? >> Of course not, Islam is a religion of peace which has been tarred by false >> association with terrorists. >> Yes, all Muslims should be treated as potential terrrorists. >> While relatively few Muslims are terrorists, the core of Islam as practiced >> even by "moderate" Muslims is is fundamentally incompatible with Western law >> and human rights, especially the rights of women and the separation of >> church and state. >> >> >> >> 14. Is homosexuality natural? >> Of course, it doesn't matter who or what you love. >> Maybe, but it doesn't matter, because it is a sin. >> No, research indicates it is a form of sexual pathology with serious >> negative consequences >> >> >> >> 15. Is capital punishment justified? >> No, killing is wrong even when done by the state. >> Yes, some people deserve to die for what they've done. >> Possibly, if the person is unquestionably guilty and the execution is swift >> and cost-effective. >> >> >> >> 16. Should the entertainment industry be regulated? >> No, people should be free to produce and consume whatever they want. >> Yes, we need to prevent the media from undermining traditional values. >> They should self-regulate by taking responsibility up-front for the values >> they spread in society. >> >> >> >> 17. Is the U.S. Constitution a living document? >> Yes, judges have the right and freedom to interpret it according to >> current societal needs. >> No, it is fine the way it is, and judges must interpret it strictly in >> accordance with the founders' original intentions. >> To some extent, but fundamental changes in interpretation and policy must >> come via the amendment process, not legislating from the bench. >> >> >> >> 18. What should schools teach? >> A broad multicultural agenda that affirms the historical contributions of >> many different groups. >> A traditional education that focuses on the basics. >> An evolving curricula that trains students to be effective citizens, >> consumers, and creative workers. >> >> >> >> 19. Is the United Nations a good thing? >> Absolutely; we should expand international collaboration wherever possible. >> No; we should abolish it or at least dramatically reduce our involvement. >> In theory, but not in practice; it should be fundamentally reformed and >> membership restricted to democracies in order to fulfill its original vision. >> >> >> >> 20. Is war ever justified? >> No, except possibly if our existence is directly threatened >> Yes, if it is in our national interest >> Not really; it may be necessary, but is usually a sign of failure elsewhere >> >> >> >> >> Powered by eSurveysPro.com >> >> >> >> If you answered a majority of questions (more than 10) with: >> A) You are Conservative >> B) You are Liberal >> C) You are a Radical Centrist. Come join us at www.RadicalCentrism.org >> >> If you had an balanced mix of A and B with some C, then you are what we call >> a "Sensible Centrist." You probably won't change the world, but you're much >> less annoying at parties. >> > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community > <[email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
