I still don’t know who’ll get my vote, but at least I know why I don’t know
Updated below with Ron Paul’s figures…
While over at The Parental is Political I’ve been steadily working my way through the candidates, summarizing their positions on a variety of issues as set forth on the non-partisan site On the Issues, those analyses have been objective profiles – just the facts, ma’am.
I’ve faithfully watched the debates and primary/caucus returns, and I’ve shushed my kids each Sunday morning as I watched Meet the Press. Despite my persistence, I haven’t been fully satisfied with any of the candidates, but I’ve not been able to fully articulate why.
So, with the help of On the Issues, I turned my analytical obsession on myself. And while I still don’t have a candidate of choice, at least now I know why.
The VoteMatch Quiz includes a wide range of topics, classified as either economic or social issues. Candidates’ positions are scored as positive or negative on the social or economic scale, based on the nature and strength of their position. For example, I oppose Topic 10, scoring -1 on the economic scale. Likewise, Senator Clinton strongly opposes Topic 10, scoring -2 on the economic scale, while Governor Huckabee strongly favors Topic 10, scoring 2 on the economic scale.
(Note that the score is based on how the candidate’s position on the issue relates to the scale. That is, while Senator Clinton favors Topic 5, her position results in a score of -1 on the economic scale. Likewise, since Governor Huckabee opposes Topic 5, his position results in a score of 1 on the economic scale.)
Based on this scoring, I’m most closely aligned with McCain on economic issues, and with Edwards and Obama on social issues. But since I don’t place equal value on all of these issues, let’s look at it another way – focusing on the issues that are most important to me:
But even with respect to the issues that are my top priorities, I’m aligned with Obama and Edwards on social issues and with McCain on economic issues.
I’ve long maintained that my conservatism is rooted in economic issues. My economic views have changed most significantly regarding alternative fuels, thanks mainly to my work with GM over the past year.
While my social views have long been liberal, I’ve grown more aware of – and more disturbed by – the influence of religion on mainstream issues. If you’ve read this blog more than once or twice, you’re almost certainly aware of my atheism and my frustration with dogmatic approaches to political, economic, and social issues. My opposition to the use of religion as a basis for legislation is the reason why so many social issues have grown so important to me – even social issues that don’t affect me personally. It’s possible that these social issues have begun to overshadow the economic issues that have long colored my overall political views.
Obviously, the VoteMatch topics listed above are only a small subset of the issues in contention in this election, and a numeric score ranging between 2 and -2 is a gross oversimplification of anyone’s position – mine or the candidates’.
But it helps to begin quantifying those issues that are of highest priority to both candidates and voters, and it gives voters a way to begin narrowing down the issues and candidates that they ought to explore further in order to make a truly informed choice, be it in their state’s primary or caucus, or in the general elections this fall.
If you want copies of these spreadsheets so that you can plug in your own scores and compare them to the candidates’, feel free to email me.
January 28th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Wow – I am so impressed with your diligence in making sure you make the right choice for you. If only all voters would be so thoughtful…
January 28th, 2008 at 10:14 am
I want copies! And although I know we have such entirely different stands – your organizational approach makes me want to squeal in delight!
Send on the spreadsheets momma!
January 28th, 2008 at 10:21 am
[...] “…with the help of On the Issues, I turned my analytical obsession on myself. And while I stil…” I’ve already asked for her spreadsheet. »» commentsThis capture on wes4ua’s flickr photostream is probably one of my favorite church marquee quotes to date. »» comments [...]
January 28th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Agree with DMD — this is impressive and it’s unfortunate that it’s all too rare.
January 28th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Where’s the Ron Paul representation?! (As I sit here in my Ron Paul t-shirt)
January 28th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Jessica, my husband asked the same question! I shall amend with Ron Paul’s numbers too.
January 28th, 2008 at 11:54 am
You rock the charts! Thinking of you this week!
January 28th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
We seem to have the same problem.
January 28th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I didn’t quite understand how the chart works or how the candidates values were derived (am slow). In any case, I swing in completely opposite directions (liberal to conservative, that is) depending on the issue so I can’t imagine who I’d be aligned with but it would definitely be interesting to find out.
January 28th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
That’s really interesting.
You know I’m not unbiased, but if I can help make it easier for you: McCain admitted he doesn’t understand economics. Instead he relies on Phil Gramm on that front. Maybe you should see what Phil Gramm stands for.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/can-this-be-true/
January 28th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
PS if you’ve got Ron Paul, you should at least have Kucinich in there.
January 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Kucinich withdrew – http://www.dennis4president.com/go/homepage-items/kucinich-withdraws-from-presidential-race/
January 28th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
damn, now this is impressive! things just made a little more sense … I’m not voting (though some days I think Neighbours should get half votes or really, really loud megaphones or something) but you’ve been shared in my Reader for those who might be inclined and able to vote. because this is the way to do it!
January 28th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Put me on the list of people who would like a copy of this spreadsheet. Very cool.
I agree with almost everything you said, down to my slow switch based on social issued becoming more and more important to me.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Hurrah for Paul! (I’m so annoying!)
January 29th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Informed voters are sexy. Very sexy.
January 29th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
[...] was incredible. She grabbed me by the title alone. (Because? Hello? That is me!) Her post titled I still don’t know who’ll get my vote, but at least I know why I don’t know is really a must read if you are even partially following this election process. And how can you [...]
January 29th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Chag, I can’t think of a nicer thing to say to a woman who’s about 40 hours away from birth.
(Um…you were including me as an informed voter, right?)
January 30th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Thank you for making me think tonight. No seriously, thank you.
I forget how extreme I am on issues. I come across looking like a moderate when things iron out, but I am so far from a moderate it isn’t even funny.
I’d love to compare notes – or maybe I just need to read your political blog.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:31 pm
This was great for me to analyze. Sometimes the simpler the better. Thanks much and good luck with the new baby…
Dorothy from grammology
remember to call gram
http://grammology.com
February 7th, 2008 at 11:45 am
[...] What’s a girl to do? I’ve been enjoying the varying points of view at BlogHer, and this post by Mother Goose Mouse is thoughtful and links to On The Issues, which was helpful as well. Luckily, [...]
February 13th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
this spreadsheet deal-y is BRILL.
love it.
lildb’s last blog post..Giving Obama My Vote – But Not My Chest
April 7th, 2008 at 1:25 am
You can check out this application as well.
The application starts with answering 36 questions, after which you can find out your position in the American political landscape. You can select the themes which are most important for you, and see which candidates corresponds the best to you personal opinion.
April 7th, 2008 at 1:25 am
forgot to give the link:
http://www.electoralcompass.com