I have met tens of thousands of people in my course of campaigning, and they would ask me about my political ideology. Am I conservative or liberal? I told them I am in the middle. I would question them about their ideology. Some would state that I am very conservative. Then I would ask them, “Do you believe in women’s reproductive rights?”  “Of course I do,” was their response. I would scratch my head. What about same sex-marriage I would ask? “Every adult has the right to marry the person of their choice,” they would say. I would scratch my head a little harder. I received the same responses with people who stated they were very, very liberal.  Different questions though. “You are very liberal but you believe in a free marketplace,” I would ask. “Yes,” they would reply.

I wondered how persons came to their own personal political identity.  Or was it the politicians, political parties and constant ad campaigns that were twisting voters’ thoughts.  People I talked to did not take the time to examine their social and economic ideology.  Many ended up voting for someone who did not necessarily represent their true political ideology, their Political Compass Heading.  I had to explain it to them.

It is too simple to say my political ideology is left or right, unless you are referring only to your economic beliefs.  And liberal or conservative status is not good describers for a complex political system we have in California and the United States. For example, Gandhi and Stalin were both left of center on economic issues.  Their social beliefs could not be further apart. Stalin an authoritarian, Gandhi a libertarian.

The Political Compass is an x-y axis Social (authoritarian-libertarian), Economic (left-right). A simple 61-question test can be taken at politicalcompass.org.  A -10 to +10 score along each axis is then computed. Minus scores indicate a left or libertarian ideology. A plus score is authoritarian or right ideology. I suggest you take a look and find out where your political compass is pointing.

I suggest people look closely at the four quadrant charts, decide where they might be and take the test and compare results. Take your time. Give each question your undivided attention. Your answers are completely confidential, and no one has access to them except you. If you choose to forward your results to me, state only your numerical results. I will graph and post the results in the publication where this opinion piece is published. Ask your elected representative or candidate to also take the test and make the results public. Compare your personal tests results with the person who now represents or wants to represent you at the federal, state or local level.

I talk about my political ideology a lot – I have to. I was a California legislative candidate. There was no surprise at my .88 left/right and -2.62 authoritarian/libertarian.

I do not think voters know what their true political heading is. Take the test and compare with the people you are electing. If they are close, then your representative is probably voting the way you want. If not, you are voting in the wrong person. The test and the charts I mention above have been criticized by several groups, but it is generally considered a useful tool by political and social scientists.

Author’s note: This is an informational tool that allows voters to make more informed choices when election time comes around. And have fun!

Mark Belden is a Calaveras County resident and former State Assembly candidate.