I am generally uncomfortable openly discussing politics, but I'm having writer's block today, and will take advantage of the opportunity to "lower the bar" for blogging ideas, so to speak.
Director Mitch pointed me to Michelle Malkin's "Media Diversity Test," on which she proudly reports her perfect score. (No one will accuse her of "liberal media bias.")
I have answered and commented below. You are welcome to agree or disagree or both or neither.
1. I have never voted for a Democrat in my life.
False. Sweeping questions like this are poor choices for tests. Examples of others:
Who doesn't? It helps to rephrase the question to: I want a fast, free, reliable infrastructure. (Choose two.)
3. I supported Bill Clinton's impeachment.
False. The literal definition of impeachment is "charge with improper conduct," though in practice, many people assume this means "remove from office." There is an interesting discussion here worth reading. Advocates of impeachment will argue that Clinton was under oath while Reagan (Iran-Contra arms scandal, though he also implied the Contras were the "moral equivalent of the founding forefathers") and Bush, Sr ("No new taxes.") were not. This, to me, is like crossing your fingers when you tell a lie.
To me, the question of impeachment depends on some other, more fundamental questions:
False. I didn't think he was the best candidate for the job. (I think this question is for the atonement of those who had a youthful ideological transgression on question #1.)
5. I am a gun owner.
False. While I have enjoyed going to a shooting range when I visit my friend Victor, I don't want guns around the house where my kids can find them.
6. I support school voucher programs.
False. I have two big problems with the voucher idea (at least the incarnation I understand). First, school voucher programs seem to ignore the fundamental and perceived problems of the education system. Instead of fixing those, it instills yet another layer of complicated fiscal chicanery.
Second, I don't want my education dollars subsidizing religious schools -- it's that separation of chuch and state thing.
I should also note that I'm homeschooling my kids. (And to answer your anticipated next question, No, I am not a religious fundamentalist.)
7. I oppose condom distribution in public schools.
True, but only because I don't feel this is the most effective use of school funds. If someone is going to have "friends with benefits," they should "buy their own birth control." I'm all for sex education, however.
8. I oppose bilingual education.
True, because "bilingual" makes no sense when applied generally. For example, where I worked in Seattle, this could be Vietnamese. Or Korean. Or even Spanish. Around my neighborhood are native speakers of Polish, Ukranian, and Somali.
Instead, I would propose making English lessons available for people who don't speak it.
9. I oppose gay marriage
False.
10. I want Social Security privatized.
False, until I can review the proposal. While I'd like some hand in controlling my own investments, I doubt that the average citizen would live with the consequences of their decisions. I could see people losing money on Nigerian 419 scams, weight loss pills, and pyramid schemes, then needing a bail out. Plus, I don't think this can be administered in a sane way. (Look at the confusion with the Medicare discount cards.)
On the other hand, the government's shell game of borrowing from the Social Security surplus is bogus.
If you want privatization, you can invest in an IRA.
11. I believe racial profiling at airports is common sense.
False. I would need demonstration that common sense can be applied in airports. Given that I've had to remove my shoes, belt, and sweater in San Jose, but not Chicago O'Hare, I don't think we've achieved anywhere near a level of "common sense."
12. I shop at Wal-Mart.
False. The closest Wal-Mart is very far from where I live. I shopped there once, and didn't enjoy the experience.
13. I enjoy talk radio.
Sometimes, but the discussion is too polarizing. There are too few examples of those who can grok shades of gray.
14. I am annoyed when news editors substitute the phrase "undocumented person" for "illegal alien."
True, as I am with the phrase "Media Diversity Test."
15. I do not believe the phrase "a chink in the armor" is offensive.
True -- Huh? It's no worse than picnick.
16. I eat meat.
True, but infrequently, and generally after I do some kind of extremely punishing sports event. For example, last Friday, after riding 106 miles, most in the rain, a guacamole bacon burger sounded really good. The next morning, I was back to my whole wheat pancakes, fruit, potatoes, and Clif bars.
17. I believe O.J. Simpson was guilty.
True. I feel the same way about Kenneth Lay (Enron), Martha Stewart (selling ImClone on insider knowledge), Bernard Ebbers (WorldCom), and Dick Cheney (Halliburton CEO from 1998-2000, when the accounting changes ensued).
18. I cheered when I learned that Saddam Hussein had been captured.
True.
19. I cry when I hear "Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood.
False. I find this song annoying. I also hate the "Like a Rock" Chevrolet commercials.
20. I don't believe the New York Times.
With any news source, blog, TV show, or bar conversation, you have to ascertain the veracity of the information, consider any political agendas, and form your own opinion. For example, Michelle Malkin is obviously a conservative. The Fox network, which she is/was a contributor has a very Citizen Murdoch quality to it.
The New York Times seems to have well-thought out articles, and I love their online news clipping service. (During the Tour de France, there was one moment where Armstrong charged some "scrub" rider. I didn't understand this until I read their article.)
I also subscribe to the Wall Street Journal -- though when I read it, I ignore the opinions section. Tara Parker-Pope and Lee Gomes write great columns. I like the "Personal Journal" section, especially the Cranky Consumer.
I have answered and commented below. You are welcome to agree or disagree or both or neither.
1. I have never voted for a Democrat in my life.
False. Sweeping questions like this are poor choices for tests. Examples of others:
- "I have always voted straight <insert party here> ticket, regardless of the candidates' qualifications." (an equally scary statement)
- "I never forget to put the seat down after I'm done using the toilet." (okay, I'm guilty here.)
- "I get along with everybody."
Who doesn't? It helps to rephrase the question to: I want a fast, free, reliable infrastructure. (Choose two.)
3. I supported Bill Clinton's impeachment.
False. The literal definition of impeachment is "charge with improper conduct," though in practice, many people assume this means "remove from office." There is an interesting discussion here worth reading. Advocates of impeachment will argue that Clinton was under oath while Reagan (Iran-Contra arms scandal, though he also implied the Contras were the "moral equivalent of the founding forefathers") and Bush, Sr ("No new taxes.") were not. This, to me, is like crossing your fingers when you tell a lie.
To me, the question of impeachment depends on some other, more fundamental questions:
- What would I do? Hypothetically speaking, if I had received a hummer from an intern, I'd be worried about my spouse's reaction if she found out. You bet I'd be evasive.
- Is this important? Not really, and it ranks pretty low on the scale of moral turpitude.
- Am I better off now than I was four years [before he was in office]? I'm borrowing from the Gipper, again, but it's poignant. I fared much better under the Clinton administration than I have during the Bush administration. Clinton's action has very little effect on my world, unlike military activities in Iraq.
False. I didn't think he was the best candidate for the job. (I think this question is for the atonement of those who had a youthful ideological transgression on question #1.)
5. I am a gun owner.
False. While I have enjoyed going to a shooting range when I visit my friend Victor, I don't want guns around the house where my kids can find them.
6. I support school voucher programs.
False. I have two big problems with the voucher idea (at least the incarnation I understand). First, school voucher programs seem to ignore the fundamental and perceived problems of the education system. Instead of fixing those, it instills yet another layer of complicated fiscal chicanery.
Second, I don't want my education dollars subsidizing religious schools -- it's that separation of chuch and state thing.
I should also note that I'm homeschooling my kids. (And to answer your anticipated next question, No, I am not a religious fundamentalist.)
7. I oppose condom distribution in public schools.
True, but only because I don't feel this is the most effective use of school funds. If someone is going to have "friends with benefits," they should "buy their own birth control." I'm all for sex education, however.
8. I oppose bilingual education.
True, because "bilingual" makes no sense when applied generally. For example, where I worked in Seattle, this could be Vietnamese. Or Korean. Or even Spanish. Around my neighborhood are native speakers of Polish, Ukranian, and Somali.
Instead, I would propose making English lessons available for people who don't speak it.
9. I oppose gay marriage
False.
10. I want Social Security privatized.
False, until I can review the proposal. While I'd like some hand in controlling my own investments, I doubt that the average citizen would live with the consequences of their decisions. I could see people losing money on Nigerian 419 scams, weight loss pills, and pyramid schemes, then needing a bail out. Plus, I don't think this can be administered in a sane way. (Look at the confusion with the Medicare discount cards.)
On the other hand, the government's shell game of borrowing from the Social Security surplus is bogus.
If you want privatization, you can invest in an IRA.
11. I believe racial profiling at airports is common sense.
False. I would need demonstration that common sense can be applied in airports. Given that I've had to remove my shoes, belt, and sweater in San Jose, but not Chicago O'Hare, I don't think we've achieved anywhere near a level of "common sense."
12. I shop at Wal-Mart.
False. The closest Wal-Mart is very far from where I live. I shopped there once, and didn't enjoy the experience.
13. I enjoy talk radio.
Sometimes, but the discussion is too polarizing. There are too few examples of those who can grok shades of gray.
14. I am annoyed when news editors substitute the phrase "undocumented person" for "illegal alien."
True, as I am with the phrase "Media Diversity Test."
15. I do not believe the phrase "a chink in the armor" is offensive.
True -- Huh? It's no worse than picnick.
16. I eat meat.
True, but infrequently, and generally after I do some kind of extremely punishing sports event. For example, last Friday, after riding 106 miles, most in the rain, a guacamole bacon burger sounded really good. The next morning, I was back to my whole wheat pancakes, fruit, potatoes, and Clif bars.
17. I believe O.J. Simpson was guilty.
True. I feel the same way about Kenneth Lay (Enron), Martha Stewart (selling ImClone on insider knowledge), Bernard Ebbers (WorldCom), and Dick Cheney (Halliburton CEO from 1998-2000, when the accounting changes ensued).
18. I cheered when I learned that Saddam Hussein had been captured.
True.
19. I cry when I hear "Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood.
False. I find this song annoying. I also hate the "Like a Rock" Chevrolet commercials.
20. I don't believe the New York Times.
With any news source, blog, TV show, or bar conversation, you have to ascertain the veracity of the information, consider any political agendas, and form your own opinion. For example, Michelle Malkin is obviously a conservative. The Fox network, which she is/was a contributor has a very Citizen Murdoch quality to it.
The New York Times seems to have well-thought out articles, and I love their online news clipping service. (During the Tour de France, there was one moment where Armstrong charged some "scrub" rider. I didn't understand this until I read their article.)
I also subscribe to the Wall Street Journal -- though when I read it, I ignore the opinions section. Tara Parker-Pope and Lee Gomes write great columns. I like the "Personal Journal" section, especially the Cranky Consumer.
.