Saturday, February 21, 2009

how liberal are you?

You scored 60%

You are moderately liberal
If you wish to find out more about liberalism please visit mises.org. To find out more about the Libertarian Party's policies, please see our manifesto. Also, you may wish to help us advertise this test with your very own blog badge, below.

We should raise taxes on the rich so we can redistribute wealth to the poor? Your answer was liberal
It is illiberal for people to be taxed at a different rate based on their income. Also rich people are the most mobile members of society. If they are over-taxed they will simply move themselves, their assets and capital offshore. Which will in turn decrease investment in the country.

We should get rid of the minimum wage? Your answer was illiberal
The minimum wage is an illiberal restriction on free trade. It also places an artificial value on the cost of labour which makes it more difficult for low skilled workers to find work, and therefore gain experience and training.

The state should bailout large corporations in financial distress? Your answer was liberal
This is an illiberal incursion on the free market — at the taxpayer's expense. No company should ever receive a taxpayer backed bailout. It encourages bad financial practices and corruption between the state, corporations and unions.

It should be illegal for members of the public to own guns? Your answer was liberal
In a liberal country people can protect themselves as they see fit. Remember if someone owns a gun it does not mean they will murder anyone. In addition it is very dangerous for a people to allow their state to have a monopoly over weaponry and therefore force.

People who hold racist or extreme views should be allowed to publicly express their ideas? Your answer was liberal
To not would be a gross and illiberal infringement on freedom of speech. And it sets a dangerous precedent for further reducing freedom of speech. It must be noted that defining things as extreme or dangerous is a purely subjective activity. Therefore the state will only define things as extreme if they pose a threat to it. But not necessarily to the people.

The state should make people change their behaviour to tackle climate change? Your answer was illiberal
In a liberal society the state will not force any law abiding person to behave in a certain way as this is an infringement on freedom of thought and action. This is an especially acute issue when you consider there is still great debate about whether climate change is caused directly by human action. People should note that the state have a lot to gain in terms of social control from climate change catastrophe. Along with large corporations who will find it easier to cope with environmental regulations than their smaller competitors.

It is wrong for the police to retain the DNA of anyone not serving a prison sentence? Your answer was illiberal
There is no reason why in a liberal society that the state should be allowed to steal the property of a person when they have not been convicted of any crime or are currently serving a prison sentence.

The state should ban people from watching violent pornography? Your answer was liberal
This is an illiberal incursion on freedom of thought. It is not the business of the state to involve itself in the sexual preferences of consenting adults.

It is wrong for democratic nations to overthrow foreign dictators? Your answer was illiberal
It is illiberal, and a sign of gross arrogance, for one state to impose their will on another in this way. These issues are for the people of said state to resolve themselves with their leader(s).

Free market capitalism should be forced on other nations to help create a better world? Your answer was liberal
It is illiberal for one state to impose their way of life on another. A liberal foreign policy involves free trade with all willing participants. It does not involve forcing states to behave in a certain way if they do not wish to.

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