compass, part 1

As an introduction to my philosophy, I will post my answers to the Political Compass. While discussion of the entire survey would be quite tedious, feel free to pick out a point or two that interest you and comment.

If economic globalisation is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather than the interests of trans-national corporations. Disagree. It should serve the interest of whomever puts forth the effort to become part of the system.

I'd always support my country, whether it was right or wrong. Agree. While I would support my country, I may not support its leaders and the decisions they make.

No one chooses his or her country of birth, so it's foolish to be proud of it. Strongly disagree. Then all cultural, sexual, intellectual, and regional pride is irrelevant as well.

Our race has many superior qualities, compared with other races. Strongly disagree. Cultures foster "superior qualities," not races.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Strongly disagree. While it may be necessary in some geopolitical situations, it is almost never wise.

Military action that defies international law is sometimes justified. Strongly agree. As the quote says, "international law is what the United States and Great Britain say it is."

There is now a worrying fusion of information and entertainment. Strongly disagree. There is nothing wrong with entertaining information. Why does knowledge have to be boring? Now if that entertainment dumbs down the information, then we have a potential problem, but that wasn't the question.

People are ultimately divided more by class than by nationality. Agree. Because of the actions of some in our political arena, class is an impediment to success.

Controlling inflation is more important than controlling unemployment. Agree. Though I don't care much for "controlling" anything, inflation causes unemployment not the other way around.

Because corporations cannot be trusted to voluntarily protect the environment, they require regulation. Strongly disagree. Corporations should be punished by consumers through the market, not by the nanny state.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" is a fundamentally good idea. Strongly disagree. It is a fundamentally flawed idea. It assumes the emotional maturity of mankind has reached the level that no longer includes greed. Whereas greed is inherently part of the capitalist system, the socialist system is impossible if it exists.

It's a sad reflection on our society that something as basic as drinking water is now a bottled, branded consumer product. Strongly disagree. If someone can get people to buy it, then it deserves to be bought.

Land shouldn't be a commodity to be bought and sold. Strongly disagree. The right to private property is one of the most fundamental of a free market system.

It is regrettable that many personal fortunes are made by people who simply manipulate money and contribute nothing to their society. Strongly disagree. Personal fortunes by their very nature are a contribution to society. They don't just sit in a hole in someone's backyard. They employ people, they build things, they buy things, and they produce things.

Protectionism is sometimes necessary in trade. Strongly disagree. If it can be made cheaper elsewhere, it should be. Artificially inflated prices are the bane of the free market system, whether by tarriff, subsidy, or welfare.

The only social responsibility of a company should be to deliver a profit to its shareholders. Strongly agree. Everything else comes along naturally. Companies are designed to make money. What they do to make it is not their responsibility, only the creation of wealth.

The rich are too highly taxed. Strongly agree. Everyone is too highly taxed.

Those with the ability to pay should have the right to higher standards of medical care. Agree. While basic emergency services are not and should not be denied to anyone, premium services are premium for a reason.

Governments should penalise businesses that mislead the public. Strongly disagree. Lying is only a crime in court. Consumers will penalise businesses that mislead them.

A genuine free market requires restrictions on the ability of predator multinationals to create monopolies. Disagree. If the market is truly free and not overregulated, monopolies are nearly impossible to create. Even when they exist, they usually exist because their product or service is superior. They are always succeptible to quality alternatives, regardless of size.

The freer the market, the freer the people. Strongly agree. Socialism and communism do not a democracy make. Regulations on companies are by definition limitations on people.

Abortion, when the woman's life is not threatened, should always be illegal. Disagree.

All authority should be questioned. Strongly agree. But with actual questions, as opposed to most of what passes for "dissent" these days (see: "Halliburton!! Oil! Dick Cheney!! Halliburton!!!").

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Agree. Depends on the situation, but in general a good idea. Even better: two eyes for an eye, and four teeth for a tooth.

Taxpayers should not be expected to prop up any theatres or museums that cannot survive on a commercial basis. Strongly agree. State subsidized entertainment has no right to exist, especially if I'm living in the state that's subsidizing it.

Schools should not make classroom attendance compulsory. Strongly agree. Children do not have the right to make such a decision, and a parent who thinks that anything is more important than their child's education should not have that right either.

All people have their rights, but it is better for all of us that different sorts of people should keep to their own kind. Strongly disagree. Who's asking these questions, David Duke?

Good parents sometimes have to spank their children. Strongly agree. Sometimes, sure. As the only means of punishment, of course not.

It's natural for children to keep some secrets from their parents. Strongly agree. Who hasn't? But they shouldn't be encouraged to do so, of course.

Marijuana should be legalised. Strongly agree. As should everything else.

The prime function of schooling should be to equip the future generation to find jobs. Strongly agree. While this shouldn't have to mean career counseling and direction, education by its very nature prepares one for work.

People with serious inheritable disabilities should not be allowed to reproduce. Strongly disagree. While I'm generally in favor of natural selection in any area, this type of selection is not natural. If such a disability is genetic, it will eventually be weeded out of the gene pool. We shouldn't have to sterilize anyone to speed along the process.

The most important thing for children to learn is to accept discipline. Disagree. Important, but not the most.

There are no savage and civilised peoples; there are only different cultures. Strongly disagree. Tell that to the two men who were hanged last week in Iran for being gay.

Those who are able to work, and refuse the opportunity, should not expect society's support. Strongly agree. Does that even need defending?

When you are troubled, it's better not to think about it, but to keep busy with more cheerful things. Agree. Depending on how productive or creative the cheerful thing is, it can sometimes help the troubled feeling.

First-generation immigrants can never be fully integrated within their new country. Strongly disagree. Can never, absolutely not. Can not very likely, probably.

What's good for the most successful corporations is always, ultimately, good for all of us. Strongly agree. Prosperity, wealth, production? Absolutely.

No broadcasting institution, however independent its content, should receive public funding. Strongly agree. Its content can't be "independent" if it's being paid for by the government.

Ok, I think that's enough for now. That was only 3 of the 6 pages of the survey. You'll get the rest later.