Political party tests
Thomas Martin Widmann
At least in Scandinavia, there are quite a few on-line tests where you
first answer a list of questions and then the various political
parties are ranked from most agreeing to least agreeing.
Some examples:
<http://www.dr.dk/politik/testdigselv.shtml> (Danish)
<http://tux1.aftenposten.no/spesial/valg2001/> (Norwegian)
Are there any equivalent web sites in your countries?
I think such tests are quite interesting because the show clearly what
are the hot topics in that country.
If you want to find yourself a Norwegian party before the general
election on Monday, here's a rough translation of the questions:
påstand - claim
enig - agree
vet ikke - don't know
uenig - disagree
1. Avgiftsnivået i Norge må ned.
The level of duties in Norway must be lowered.
2. Bedre skole er viktigere enn lavere skatt.
Better schools are more important than lower taxes.
3. Det er riktig å bygge gasskraftverk i Norge, selv om de
forurenser.
It is right to build gas power plants in Norway although they
pollute.
4. Det er viktigere å senke skattene for de som tjener minst, enn
å fjerne toppskatten.
It is more important to lower the taxes for those who earn very little
than to remove the extra taxes for top earners.
5. Det må bli lettere å starte alternative privatskoler i Norge.
It has to become easier to start alternate private schools in Norway.
6. Elever må få bruke oppslagsverk, internett og mobiltelefon på
eksamen.
Pupils should be allowed to use dictionaries, Internet and mobile
phones when taking an exam.
7. Fagbevegelsen har for liten makt i Norge.
The labour unions have too little power in Norway.
8. Flere og billigere barnehager er viktigere enn kontantstøtte.
More and cheaper kinder-gardens is more important than cash benefits.
9. Homofile bør få bli prester.
Homosexuals should be allowed to become (Lutheran) ministers/priests.
10. Homofile bør ikke få adoptere barn.
Homosexuals should not be allowed to adopt children.
11. Jeg ville ikke like å få en innvandrer som nabo.
I would not like to get an immigrant as my neighbour.
12. Karakterer er en god evalueringsform som bør beholdes i
skolen.
Marks are a good way of evaluation that should be kept in school
13. Kommersielle privatskoler bør ikke tillates.
Commercial private schools should not be allowed.
14. Kontantstøtten bør utvides til flere aldersgrupper.
Cash support should be extended to more age groups.
15. Kvinner bør tenke seg ekstra om før de gifter seg med
muslimske menn.
Women should consider the situation carefully before marrying a Moslem
man.
16. Norge bør melde seg inn i EU.
Norway should join the EU.
17. Norge bør si opp EØS-avtalen.
Norway should withdraw from the EEA (European Economic Area)
agreement.
18. Norge må bruke mer penger på u-hjelp.
Norway should use more money helping developing countries.
19. Norge må melde seg ut av Nato.
Norway has to leave NATO.
20. Norge må slåss for internasjonal skatt på
valutatransaksjoner (Tobin-skatt)
Norway has to fight for an international tax on currency transactions
(the Tobin tax).
21. Norge må ta imot flere arbeidsinnvandrere.
Norway has to accept more workings immigrants.
22. Private bedrifter bør kunne overta kommunale tjenester.
Private enterprises should be able to take over services from the
community.
23. Sidemålsundervisning må være valgfritt.
Studying the other Norwegian language (normally Nynorsk) should not
be obligatory.
24. Skattenivået bør være som i dag, men småbedriftene bør få
lettelser.
The level of taxation should be as it is today, but the small
enterprises should get reductions.
25. Skolebøker og annet undervisningsmateriell bør finansieres
med reklame.
School books and other educational material should be financed by
means of advertisements.
26. Skolebøker skal være gratis for elever i videregående skole.
School books should be free for pupils in secondary school
27. Solidaritetsalternativet, der arbeidstagerne demper sine
lønnskrav i bytte mot full sysselsetting, er fornuftig.
The "solidarity alternative" (where the workers lower their wage
demands in return for full employment) is sensible.
28. Staten bør ikke overta sykehusene.
The state should not take over the hospitals.
29. Sykelønnsordningen må strammes inn.
The payment of wages to the sick should be restricted.
30. U-landenes gjeld til Norge bør slettes.
The debts of the developing countries to Norway should be cancelled.
/Thomas
--
Thomas Martin Widmann, Universitetsparken 8, 2., -333, DK-8000 Århus C
Tel.: 7028 4406 * (park) 8942 7333 * (mob.) 2167 6127 * (SDS) 8733 4465
<mailto:vira...@daimi.au.dk> <URL:http://www.daimi.au.dk/~viralbus>
MA stud. (ling-dat); stud.prog.; aktiv radikal; formand/DK-TUG; T4ONF/TK
enro
understood, the intention is to show someone, which political party
would represent ones ideas and opinions in the best way.
I think, this way to form ones political views is a very dangerous
one, because it enabels manipulation, since no one knows the authors
of such tests. It's easy for a political organisation to create such a
test and manipulate it, that the result always is to vote that
organisation.
Nobody should leave thinking and forming an opinion to the internet,
especially not in such a sensitive field as the political orientation
of a country.
Brgds,
enro
Thomas Martin Widmann <vira...@humulus.daimi.au.dk> wrote in message news:<yrs7kv9...@humulus.daimi.au.dk>...
Thomas Martin Widmann
> I didn't try all the tests mentioned in this thread, but as far as I
> understood, the intention is to show someone, which political party
> would represent ones ideas and opinions in the best way.
Exactly.
> I think, this way to form ones political views is a very dangerous
> one, because it enabels manipulation, since no one knows the authors
> of such tests. It's easy for a political organisation to create such
> a test and manipulate it, that the result always is to vote that
> organisation.
In theory, you're right, but all such tests I have seen have been made
by newspapers or other reasonably independent organisations.
Furthermore, they don't just say which one party agrees with you;
instead, they list all parties from best to worst. So even if a
manipulated test would always put a specific party on top, it would
have to do something with the other parties.
> Nobody should leave thinking and forming an opinion to the internet,
> especially not in such a sensitive field as the political
> orientation of a country.
I doubt anybody would vote only according to a test, but it may make
you consider a party that you never thought about before.