Politics survey, feel free to ignore if it isn't your thing

(It's anonymous)

So the media would have you think politics is a binary issue. It's left vs right. But this is so simplistic. At the very least there are two axes: economic and social (as shown in the frequently quoted polticial compass test).

For a couple of examples:

You can be left wing economically and conservative socially - so for example you support higher taxes on the rich, trade unionism, socialist projects like the NHS etc etc, but also support 'conservative, traditional' social values, like a tough justice system, Christian teachings, preserving local culture through restricting immigration etc.

On the other hand, you can be right-wing economically; support capitalist (Tory economics) principles, lower benefits, 'you make what you earn', etc etc - but be liberal socially - so for example you support those aforementioned economics but are all for LGBT rights, pro-choice on abortion, feminist, etc etc.

Where are you on this spectrum?

Needless to say, even two axes are insufficient really, but using two rather than one is infinitely better to identify roughly where you are.

Thrown in a Brexit question too, as I'm just curious to see what the makeup is now on the BBS. Bear in mind supporting Brexit doesn't necessarily mean right-wing, and opposing doesn't automatically mean left-wing.

You get two votes in the poll - one for your political identity and one for Brexit.

Edit: ignore a typo or two in the poll, I was rushing while I ate mi Weetabix

 

Interesting poll. Without wishing to over-complicate things, being "left wing" economically covers a huge spectrum of views. As someone who runs a small business, it's pretty clear that I believe in the free market. However, I am also a strong believer in a progressive taxation system, a strong social safety net, and government investment in grassroots community projects, especially for the disadvantaged. I'd consider myself left of Blair but right of Corbyn, while agreeing with both of them on certain issues and less on others.

 

I am a member of the Green Party because none of the others support policies for a sustainable future. They all basically try to operate capitalism and consumerism in a way that suits their left/right leanings. Sustainability never really gets a look in.

Edit. I only ticked "Opposed to Brexit".

 

I'm kind of halfway between Minority Report and Majority Report, with a leaning towards Minority Report.

 

That's what is hard to get across. Being left or right is a spectrum, not a stance set in stone. I'm left myself, and one of the most common in-jokes in my circles is how right-wingers get annoyed at leftists, centrists get annoyed at leftists, and leftists get annoyed at leftists

I'd say believing in a progressive taxation system, strong social safety net, government investment etc etc whilst believing largely in the free market would place you somewhere between the left and neoliberal.

 

That's genuinely a tough spectrum to place oneself in. I enjoy both, depending on my mood and amount of alcohol consumed.

 

If we had a proportional system I'd definitely consider voting Green. As it is they didn't even field a candidate in my constituency at the last election.

 

Isn't that like if you're asked how hot you'd like your curry, answering that you'll have something between a korma and a phal?!

 

Admittedly it's too complex for a poll to do it justice, especially considering the left includes everything from anarchism to communism to socialism, with everything in-between. I am being rather simplistic.

 

I would class myself as centre left. I'm significantly left of the Current Tory Party, but conversely I would say I'm a long way to the right from out and out communism.

I'm still putting Left and Left for your poll though.

Happy to be a progressive democratic champagne socialist.

 

We had one in Derbyshire South, she got 1788 votes 3.3%. Sadly the majority of people in the UK think the same as you and feel that a Green vote is a wasted vote, which under our electoral system it is, unless you happen to live in Brighton......

Edit - It would be interesting if one of the polling companies did a survey about what people's voting intentions would be if we had PR. I suspect Greens would do far better.

 

Pretty certain St Petersburg will never have a Green Candidate.

 

I'm a grumpy Beer 'n crisps Green Tree-hugger.

 

I guess you just have to assume that nobody falls into any of the extreme categories. I remember at school our English teacher explaining to us how the political spectrum is actually far closer to being a circle than a straight line. I didn't really get what he meant back then, but actually libertarianism and anarchism are very close to each other in many aspects, despite one being considered on the far left of the spectrum and the other on the far right. This is something most Americans really do not get, the majority of them seemingly convinced that Scandinavian style social democracy and communism are essentially the same thing.

 

I'd say more of a horseshoe than a circle, there are always striking differences even when the similarities are notable

 

You'd be surprised. We're off to a recycling jamboree this morning organised by the local Green Party! The prospect of them actually winning a seat is extremely distant though, as the majority of the population consider it to be far too bourgeois to bother with. It's highly noticeable when you take your stuff, the disproportionate number of craft beer cans and organic milk bottles that people are recycling. It gives an interesting insight into the demographic who actually take recycling seriously - ie those who have enough time to consider doing it, as they are not constantly worrying about how to put food on the table.

 

I like a lot of green policies , particularly towards the "third world

I think that's the thing, it requires effort. I hold my hands up and have only really recycled properly once Barnsley council started operating the service and then it was no skin off my nose to do it. Forget reusable nappies and the like though! In my defence I'm not a very materialistic person and i get full use of stuff I buy.

 

It takes a huge amount of effort, you're right, especially as living in St Petersburg is very similar to London living, whereby most people live in apartments. Ours isn't small but it's not huge either, so trying to find somewhere to store even a fortnight's worth of recycling is a bit of a challenge. Cans and bottles are easy enough to deal with, as there are points throughout the city which pay you for them. So we sort them, then just leave them in bags by the large bins outside our block. Winos will then find them and take them to the recycling point, getting the equivalent of 50p for a couple of bags of cans. It's an informal system, but it works well. Russia is only just starting to recycle things on a large scale, but actually very little that can be reused in some way gets disposed off. For many people, this is a throwback to the final years of the USSR and the 90's, when there was a deficit of just about everything. They are just not in the habit of throwing anything that can be reused away. My wife's parents still think like this, despite the fact that they are financially comfortable. For others though, it is still a sad necessity.

 

I vote Green in local elections, where there is a chance of a candidate winning a seat on Leeds CC and Labour at General elections. My local MP is a supporter of environmental issues and if he doesn't get in it is Lib Dems, who were a decent party under Charles Kennedy, but lost all credibility in coalition with the Tories. If I wanted to support the Tory Party I'd vote for them, rather than the Lib Dems. The only thing the Lib Dems do support that I agree with is PR. This Tory government is more populist / nationalist & is not remotely fiscally conservative, like they were pre-Johnson.

 

If they ever do get close to winning enough votes I'm pretty certain Putin would have a plan to 'eradicate' the threat.