The Nolan Chart

If you go on line to most Libertarian groups, including the Libertarian Party, you will find an announcement about the World's Smallest Political Quiz.   Marshall Fritz, who borrowed the idea from David Nolan, installed it as an online political quiz on the site of Advocates for Self-Government. 

 

It is very handy and useful as a tool for ascertaining your political viewpoint. David Nolan designed it many years ago when tech was not so high and we relied on things like vacuum tubes, wires and switches. 

 

When I was Southern Vice Chairman for the California LP from 1979 – 1984 we used much the same quiz, minus the computer references, naturally. The Quiz was housed in a big, clumsy metal box filled with wires and little lights that lit up to tell you the same thing. It was built by Ed Ogawa, a long time Libertarian from Pasadena, and burned up in a barn fire at my then home in North Hills in 1989. 

 

You can find the test at several Libertarian sites on the Internet. No matter what they call it, Diamond or whatever, it is the Nolan Chart Quiz. 

 

The test became one of the main Libertarian ritual and you will come across people tabling with it at all sorts of places across the United States. Sometimes they have a computer sitting there and sometimes the test is on paper. Tabling a means used by many groups to spread their ideas; Libertarians now often share tabling with Greens, who are curiously enough, frequently working in coalition with Libertarians in parts of the country. 

 

Personal Issues

(Choose A if you agree, M for Maybe, D if you disagree.)

Government should not censor speech, press, media or Internet

There should be no laws regarding sex for consenting adults

Military service should be voluntary. There should be no draft

(Choose A if you agree, M for Maybe, D if you disagree.)

Repeal laws prohibiting adult possession and use of drugs

There should be no National ID card

Economic Issues

(Choose A if you agree, M for Maybe, D if you disagree.)

End "corporate welfare." No government handouts to business

End government barriers to international free trade

Let people control their own retirement; privatize Social Security

Replace government welfare with private charity

Cut taxes and government spending by 50% or more