Harvard's IOP Thinks I'm a Secular Centrist

Harvard Institute of Politics Political Personality Test

My answers are bolded.

As part of our spring 2004 national survey of college students we have created a short test to measure where your political beliefs fit with college students across the country.

Please answer the questions by marking the box that best fits your belief.

1 = Strongly disagree
2 = Somewhat disagree
3 = Neither agree nor disagree
4 = Somewhat agree
5 = Strongly agree

1. The best way to increase economic growth and create jobs is to cut taxes. 5

2. Our country's goal in trade policy should be to eliminate all barriers to trade and employment so that we have a truly global economy.
   5

3. Basic health insurance is a right for all people, and if someone has no means of paying for it, the government should provide it.
   1

4. Qualified minorities should be given special preferences in hiring and education.
   1

5. Religious values should play a more important role in government.
   1

6. In today's world, it is sometimes necessary to attack potentially hostile countries, rather than waiting until we are attacked to respond.
   1

7. Protecting the environment should be as high a priority for government as protecting jobs.
   1

8. Homosexual relationships between consenting adults are morally wrong.
   1

9. If parents had more freedom to choose where they could send their children to school, the education system in this country would be much better.
   5

10. I am concerned about the moral direction of the country.
    3

11. Recent immigration into this country has done more good than harm.
    3

Thus netting me this designation:

You are a Secular Centrist. Secular centrists like you tend to be:

Strongly supportive of gay rights.

Believe strongly in the separation of church and state.

Less supportive of affirmative action than most college students.

Less likely to be concerned about the environment than most college students.

Less likely to believe in basic health insurance as a right than most college students.

Full disclosure of the results of the survey can be found here.

Am I less concerned about the environment than most college students? Probably. That's the only conclusion I really take issue with, given it's wording. It sounds as if the people who are more concerned about the environment are those who believe the government should be used to preserve it, two assertions I reject.

Posted by Drizzten at April 16, 2004 08:59 AM