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songofjoy0279% Mitt Romney
77% John McCain
74% Fred Thompson
73% Tom Tancredo
73% Mike Huckabee
59% Rudy Giuliani
58% Ron Paul
45% Hillary Clinton
42% Bill Richardson
42% John Edwards
41% Joe Biden
40% Chris Dodd
39% Barack Obama
23% Mike Gravel
18% Dennis Kucinich
2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz
Well, my 18 y.o. brother keeps telling me to vote for Romney, but I don't know. Seriously, though, the real problem with this quiz is that I'm more conservative than most of the answers available allowed for. So picking the second best was a real toss up.
77% John McCain
74% Fred Thompson
73% Tom Tancredo
73% Mike Huckabee
59% Rudy Giuliani
58% Ron Paul
45% Hillary Clinton
42% Bill Richardson
42% John Edwards
41% Joe Biden
40% Chris Dodd
39% Barack Obama
23% Mike Gravel
18% Dennis Kucinich
2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz
Well, my 18 y.o. brother keeps telling me to vote for Romney, but I don't know. Seriously, though, the real problem with this quiz is that I'm more conservative than most of the answers available allowed for. So picking the second best was a real toss up.
So here are the questions and the answers I'd have given if I could have...
1. How do you feel about civil liberties in post-9/11 America?
While I don't think that freedom should be sacrificed for safety, I also don't think it's unreasonable to have greater restrictions and more detailed searching done at airports. I don't know where the balance is, but one must be struck...
2. What is your opinion on same-sex marriage?
It's an oxymoron. God designed marriage as one man, one woman. That said, I personally think that the introduction of no-fault divorce has done way more to undermine marriage (as God designed it) than any lobbying gay rights activists have done. I do think that homosexual actions are wrong, but I also believe that God hates divorce. Based on what I've seen in other countries that have legalized gay marriage, though, it seems like it does undermine marriage. My question is, Was marriage already a failing institution there or did this actually cause people to decide that getting married wasn't worthwhile? Without the answer to that question, it is hard to say. Now, I do personally think that there should be some way to allow for gay partners to be present when their partner is dying in the hospital, etc. I'm trying to think of how to say this. I don't hate gay people. I think consideration for their relationships is reasonable. I don't condone it, but to me it would be similar to thinking that an adulterous couple should be allowed to be together in one person's last moments if that is what they desire. Extending that to providing health insurance for gay partners is another issue altogether, though...primarily, I suppose, because I do consider it a rather high-risk lifestyle (but then why should that be any different than any other high-risk lifestyle?). I don't know the answers on this. I'd rather not really think about it. I care about influencing the culture to strengthen marriage...not about fighting against legalizing gay marriage.
3. How do you feel about free trade?
I don't really have an opinion on the subject. Like with anything, I think there should be a balance of government involvement and taking advantage of opportunities.
4. How do you feel about the Iraq War?
I don't know. My cousin died in it, so maybe that should make me biased - but I don't know which way to be biased. There are so many theories about why we're in Iraq, so many ideas of how self-serving or inefficient it was of Bush. And there's so much I don't know about all the circumstances surrounding going to war. At this point, I don't think any of that matters nearly as much as what to do now...and the idea that Democrats have that we can just pull the troops out and thus end the war? Laughable. My brother says that so many troops have been trained and deployed to Iraq that the U.S. doesn't have the bases built to house them if they should all come home. You can complain all you want about Bush's lack of planning, but that doesn't change much for the present: Whoever becomes president will have to deal with how to bring the troops home in a way that will not hurt Iraq or the U.S. more than necessary.
5. What are your views on the death penalty?
I don't like it because, if someone is wrongly condemned, they could be suffering a fate that is unjust - which is horrible to consider. But I would rather employ the death penalty on dangerous convicts (and in a more efficient manner) to avoid the possibility of their escape. I think of the death penalty more as a way to keep society safer (which it doesn't really accomplish at the moment) than as a means of justice. Because of that, I don't think my "support" of the death penalty is really warranted.
6. How do you feel about marijuana legalization?
I think I'm against it because of the potential harm and because it might open up questions about legalizing other drugs. But alcohol is legal and I think that's reasonable, so I'm not sure I have a very consistent stance on this subject. If marijuana became legal, I wouldn't really care; if someone asks me to sign a petition to get it on a ballot to make it legal, though, I'm not signing. Basically, I'm apathetic except with reference to lending my support.
7. Where do you stand on abortion?
I'm against it, but I don't think it's the most important political issue right now.
8. Where do you stand on the balance of business vs. workers?
Corporations provide jobs for workers, don't they? I am a dunce when it comes to economics, though, so I really don't know how to answer this. If we need government to find a happy medium where everyone has at least the opportunity to work hard and make money, great. If not, that's even better. The more specifically the government is involved, the less efficient things usually are. If the same is true with business, then I'm against it...but I don't know what's true, so I can't really say anything. :-P
9. What is your view on the national budget?
I'd like a president who will balance it...or at least get it well on its way to being balanced. Someone ought to be able to come up with a system that allows reasonable taxation and eliminates programs that are not accomplishing anything productive for the country. Anyone ever heard of streamlining?
10. Where do you stand on embryonic stem cell research? Answer as if alternatives (adult stem cells) do not pan out.
I don't support anything that would encourage abortion.
11. Should Social Security be privatized?
Social Security is a lost cause. If privatizing it would help, go for it. Right now, I think the only thing I can really do is pay in so that the people drawing from it now will have something to draw. As far as providing for my future, I think I'd need to do something on my own.
12. How should we address immigrants who entered the country illegally?
Deportation. I also think we should make coming to the U.S. less attractive. Offering free prenatal care and other government services to illegal immigrants is like inviting them to come. Why do we do it?
13. How do you feel about issues relating to energy and the environment?
I'm not an environmentalist, but preserving our resources and being as efficient as possible seems wise to me. If there are more efficient ways to do environment-friendly things, I'm all for it...but I'm pretty sure there are private institutions out there already looking into it - with the goal of making a profit. I hope they find something.
14. What is your view on the minimum wage?
If raising it means fewer jobs, then no thanks. I remember when we raised minimum wage here in Arkansas and all the newbies where my brother was working were coming in at the same rate of pay that it had taken my brother a year to get up to...I don't think his pay was raised in proportion, either, though I may be wrong.
15. What should be done about health care?
People should start taking care of themselves because eventually there won't be enough health care professionals to provide health care even for those who can pay for it. I don't think that paying for health care is the government's responsibility and their involvement has 1) influenced costs to rise and 2) decreased the quality of care for patients. Since Medicare determines how much each procedure should cost and will only pay that much to a medical institution for it, that makes it more desirable for hospitals and doctors to perform procedures that cost more - which may or may not be better for the patient. Is this really giving our citizens the health care they need? I don't really anticipate any reform happening in this department and I most assuredly don't have a specific plan for improvement, but I do think that people need to take more personal responsibility for their health...
16. Where do you stand on gun control?
I like some, but the right to bear arms is Constitutional.
17. What is America's role in an overseas crisis such as the genocide in Darfur?
I don't know anything about that situation itself, but I do believe that the United States has a history of getting involved in things that are none of its business, a drain on our resources, and a cause for the rest of the world to hate us.
So...I don't know all the answers. I have more opinions than I should. And I still don't know who to vote for.
1. How do you feel about civil liberties in post-9/11 America?
While I don't think that freedom should be sacrificed for safety, I also don't think it's unreasonable to have greater restrictions and more detailed searching done at airports. I don't know where the balance is, but one must be struck...
2. What is your opinion on same-sex marriage?
It's an oxymoron. God designed marriage as one man, one woman. That said, I personally think that the introduction of no-fault divorce has done way more to undermine marriage (as God designed it) than any lobbying gay rights activists have done. I do think that homosexual actions are wrong, but I also believe that God hates divorce. Based on what I've seen in other countries that have legalized gay marriage, though, it seems like it does undermine marriage. My question is, Was marriage already a failing institution there or did this actually cause people to decide that getting married wasn't worthwhile? Without the answer to that question, it is hard to say. Now, I do personally think that there should be some way to allow for gay partners to be present when their partner is dying in the hospital, etc. I'm trying to think of how to say this. I don't hate gay people. I think consideration for their relationships is reasonable. I don't condone it, but to me it would be similar to thinking that an adulterous couple should be allowed to be together in one person's last moments if that is what they desire. Extending that to providing health insurance for gay partners is another issue altogether, though...primarily, I suppose, because I do consider it a rather high-risk lifestyle (but then why should that be any different than any other high-risk lifestyle?). I don't know the answers on this. I'd rather not really think about it. I care about influencing the culture to strengthen marriage...not about fighting against legalizing gay marriage.
3. How do you feel about free trade?
I don't really have an opinion on the subject. Like with anything, I think there should be a balance of government involvement and taking advantage of opportunities.
4. How do you feel about the Iraq War?
I don't know. My cousin died in it, so maybe that should make me biased - but I don't know which way to be biased. There are so many theories about why we're in Iraq, so many ideas of how self-serving or inefficient it was of Bush. And there's so much I don't know about all the circumstances surrounding going to war. At this point, I don't think any of that matters nearly as much as what to do now...and the idea that Democrats have that we can just pull the troops out and thus end the war? Laughable. My brother says that so many troops have been trained and deployed to Iraq that the U.S. doesn't have the bases built to house them if they should all come home. You can complain all you want about Bush's lack of planning, but that doesn't change much for the present: Whoever becomes president will have to deal with how to bring the troops home in a way that will not hurt Iraq or the U.S. more than necessary.
5. What are your views on the death penalty?
I don't like it because, if someone is wrongly condemned, they could be suffering a fate that is unjust - which is horrible to consider. But I would rather employ the death penalty on dangerous convicts (and in a more efficient manner) to avoid the possibility of their escape. I think of the death penalty more as a way to keep society safer (which it doesn't really accomplish at the moment) than as a means of justice. Because of that, I don't think my "support" of the death penalty is really warranted.
6. How do you feel about marijuana legalization?
I think I'm against it because of the potential harm and because it might open up questions about legalizing other drugs. But alcohol is legal and I think that's reasonable, so I'm not sure I have a very consistent stance on this subject. If marijuana became legal, I wouldn't really care; if someone asks me to sign a petition to get it on a ballot to make it legal, though, I'm not signing. Basically, I'm apathetic except with reference to lending my support.
7. Where do you stand on abortion?
I'm against it, but I don't think it's the most important political issue right now.
8. Where do you stand on the balance of business vs. workers?
Corporations provide jobs for workers, don't they? I am a dunce when it comes to economics, though, so I really don't know how to answer this. If we need government to find a happy medium where everyone has at least the opportunity to work hard and make money, great. If not, that's even better. The more specifically the government is involved, the less efficient things usually are. If the same is true with business, then I'm against it...but I don't know what's true, so I can't really say anything. :-P
9. What is your view on the national budget?
I'd like a president who will balance it...or at least get it well on its way to being balanced. Someone ought to be able to come up with a system that allows reasonable taxation and eliminates programs that are not accomplishing anything productive for the country. Anyone ever heard of streamlining?
10. Where do you stand on embryonic stem cell research? Answer as if alternatives (adult stem cells) do not pan out.
I don't support anything that would encourage abortion.
11. Should Social Security be privatized?
Social Security is a lost cause. If privatizing it would help, go for it. Right now, I think the only thing I can really do is pay in so that the people drawing from it now will have something to draw. As far as providing for my future, I think I'd need to do something on my own.
12. How should we address immigrants who entered the country illegally?
Deportation. I also think we should make coming to the U.S. less attractive. Offering free prenatal care and other government services to illegal immigrants is like inviting them to come. Why do we do it?
13. How do you feel about issues relating to energy and the environment?
I'm not an environmentalist, but preserving our resources and being as efficient as possible seems wise to me. If there are more efficient ways to do environment-friendly things, I'm all for it...but I'm pretty sure there are private institutions out there already looking into it - with the goal of making a profit. I hope they find something.
14. What is your view on the minimum wage?
If raising it means fewer jobs, then no thanks. I remember when we raised minimum wage here in Arkansas and all the newbies where my brother was working were coming in at the same rate of pay that it had taken my brother a year to get up to...I don't think his pay was raised in proportion, either, though I may be wrong.
15. What should be done about health care?
People should start taking care of themselves because eventually there won't be enough health care professionals to provide health care even for those who can pay for it. I don't think that paying for health care is the government's responsibility and their involvement has 1) influenced costs to rise and 2) decreased the quality of care for patients. Since Medicare determines how much each procedure should cost and will only pay that much to a medical institution for it, that makes it more desirable for hospitals and doctors to perform procedures that cost more - which may or may not be better for the patient. Is this really giving our citizens the health care they need? I don't really anticipate any reform happening in this department and I most assuredly don't have a specific plan for improvement, but I do think that people need to take more personal responsibility for their health...
16. Where do you stand on gun control?
I like some, but the right to bear arms is Constitutional.
17. What is America's role in an overseas crisis such as the genocide in Darfur?
I don't know anything about that situation itself, but I do believe that the United States has a history of getting involved in things that are none of its business, a drain on our resources, and a cause for the rest of the world to hate us.
So...I don't know all the answers. I have more opinions than I should. And I still don't know who to vote for.
