Are You More Capitalist or Socialist?

By: Teresa McGlothlin

Which of these current governmental agencies do you think needs the biggest overhaul?

Department of Homeland Security

Department of the Treasury
Department of Environmental Protection

Department of Energy

Which one of these countries do you think the United States should want to be their biggest ally?

Mexico

England
Saudi Arabia

Germany

Karl Marx argued that religion and morality are tied to economics. Do you agree?

I completely agree. Religion is big business.

I think you are less moral when you are rich.
Morals and religion have nothing to do with the economy.

I think they are interlinked for some people.

Pretend you are running for office. Which issue will be your biggest talking point?

National security

Health care
The national budget

Equality

A local organization is planning to build a rehab center in your neighborhood. Are you for or against it?

Other people's issues are not our problem.

I think it's a wonderful idea. It's much needed.
I hope it's not a free clinic! I'm not paying for that.

I like the idea of a clinic. Not in my neighborhood, though.

Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that capitalism was poorly equipped for dealing with injustice. Do you share that belief?

Capitalism knows no justice.

It's true! Just look at the prison industry.
It's not the economy's fault.

I agree to an extent. Rich people do get better lawyers.

Would you vote for a measure to raise the minimum wage to $22 per hour?

I can think of more important reasons to vote.

I think that's fair.
I would vote to turn it down.

I would vote for a higher minimum wage, but that's more than I make.

The father of capitalism, Adam Smith, said, "Every man lives by exchanging." What do you think it means?

I think it means life is a series of give and take.

He's referring to exchanging commodities for a profit.
He saying if you want something you have to work for it.

He could be talking about the exchange of ideas.

You are arguing your point before the legislature. Are you for or against tougher gun control laws?

Get your hands off my Second Amendment!

Gun laws should be much more strict.
I'm against tougher laws, but some laws need to be revised.

Honestly, I don't know enough about the subject.

Focus on education for a moment. Do you believe teachers need to be paid more?

I think everyone should be homeschooling.

Teachers should be paid as much as doctors.
They knew how much they were going to be paid before they became a teacher.

I have no idea how much teachers earn.

Would you rather pay a little more for something from a privately owned store or head to a big box store?

I would rather make it myself.

Supporting local business is extremely important.
I look for the best bargain.

I'll pay a little more but not a crazy amount.

Health care is a hot button during election season. Do you believe it's a basic human right?

It should be, but it's not.

It's a fundamental human right.
Get a job and get insurance.

I think any system would work better than what we have now.

It's said that a benefit of capitalism is consumer choice. Why do you think it's a benefit?

It does lead to higher quality products by increasing competition.

We don't need as many things as we have. Too much choice can be a bad thing.
It's the best part of the whole free-market system. We get to choose what we do and do not want.

It's good to have choices, but it creates a lot of waste.

What is your stance on drug testing those who need state-assisted benefits?

People should strive to avoid needing assistance from the government.

It's morally corrupt.
It should be mandatory.

If there's suspicion, people should be tested.

Let's pretend you are the governor of a state and you need to make cuts. Where would you start?

Transportation and highways can spare a little.

I wouldn't make cuts. I would raise the cost of doing business.
I would trim the fat by cutting public housing.

We do not need so many state workers. I would streamline the workforce.

If the president planned to increase military spending by 30%, would you approve or disapprove?

He'll do what he wants with or without my approval.

I 100% disapprove of that decision.
The president knows best, and I support him.

If we were at war, I would approve it.

Capitalism thrives on wage labor. Socialism says it's exploitative. What are your thoughts on the subject?

I think it's better to own your own business and pocket as much money as you can.

It is exploitative. People should not be bribed to work for money like horses and carrots.
Without wage labor, our system wouldn't work.

A hard day's work deserves a decent day's pay.

In your opinion, what could be done to ease the situation at the border?

Borders should be open.

We should send aid to countries people are fleeing.
We really need to complete the wall. Now!

The entire immigration system should be overhauled.

Many politicians have suggested removing the minimum wage entirely. Should we?

That's a recipe for disaster.

Absolutely not!
It's the only way to go. People expect too much.

If employers paid fairly, it would be OK.

Your department got a huge bonus. Should it be split equally?

Those who did the most work should get more.

Of course, it should.
Bosses and executives should get the biggest cut.

Bosses and executives should give up their cut.

If the voting age were changed to age 21, would you have a problem with that?

Many things about voting could be changed, but age is not one of them.

People do make more mature choices at that age.
If you're old enough to be in the military at 18, you're old enough to vote.

I actually think the voting age should be lowered.

The First Amendment protects the right to peacefully assemble. What might we find you protesting?

Voter suppression

Immigrant detention camps
Presidential impeachment proceedings

The potential of heading into war

If you found $15,000, would you keep it for yourself, invest it or share it with someone?

I'm going to keep building my underground bunker.

I'm sure I'll give some of it to charity.
That's a good chunk to invest.

I'll save some and pay off a few things.

Student loan debt gets a lot of students into financial trouble. Should education be free?

There should be more self-education in the world.

Education should be free for everyone.
If you can't pay off a loan, don't get a loan. If you want a good school, pay for it.

It doesn't need to be free, but it should cost a lot less.

Some believe that corporations are people. Do you?

That's not exactly right.

Corporations seem to have more rights than people.
Corporate personhood is necessary to protect the market.

They are not people, but they have rights and responsibilities that people benefit from.

British politician Jeremy Corbyn would love to have a nuclear-free world. Do you share his point of view?

That's the last thing we need.

I completely agree with him.
We need nuclear technology for power and for weaponry.

I think we could skip the nuclear missiles.

Your boss is doing away with the office pay structure and paying everyone equally instead. You'll lose a few dollars. How do you react?

I am the boss.

That's awesome! It's about time.
I'm going to file a grievance.

It depends what you mean by "a few dollars."

Prisons are overcrowded. What can we do to reduce the rate of recidivism?

We need tougher punishments.

Better education would solve a lot of problems.
There's nothing we can do. Some people are always going to break the law.

We could do away with privately run prisons.

You can be honest. Which rating would you give of the current president's job performance?

Pitiful

Lackluster
Great

As good as any other president

Do you think that Stalin or Hitler had the worst political ideas?

That's kind of a toss-up.

Hitler was far more dangerous.
They were both horrible.

Stalin was simply insane.

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About This Quiz

Founded by Adam Smith, capitalism touts a free market that caters to individual self-interest. On the other hand, socialism places the focus on the greater good. Today's world is full of moral conundrums that could have us doubting which economic belief system we value and practice the most. Once you finish this quiz, you'll know where you really stand.

While both systems sing the praises of the benefits of free speech and the right to assemble, one favors the market more than it favors a fair system that benefits all. Based a supply and demand, capitalism is said to reduce waste by allowing consumers the choice of goods and services. Socialism believes that the capitalist system neglects the needs of members of society and focuses more on wealth. As you go through these questions, your every opinion will be counted so that we can figure out where your belief system really lies.

There's no right way or wrong way to respond, and we encourage freedom of thought and expression. When you read the moral and political problems we present, take a moment to connect with your truest thoughts before you respond. After you've told us what you think, we'll tell you if you are a capitalist or a socialist at heart. You might think you already know, but do you?

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