{
 "name": "Political beliefs",
 "person": "Ross Allan Dahl",
 "url": "https://rossdahl.com/politics",
 "updated": "2026-10-06",
 "note": "lean and axes are approximate codings, not the author's own labels. axes: e = market (-) to public (+), f = state control (-) to personal freedom (+), m = equal say (-) to merit and expertise (+), p = traditional (-) to progressive (+).",
 "count": 49,
 "positions": [
  {
   "n": 1,
   "topic": "Rights and liberties",
   "title": "Free speech",
   "statement": "Speech should be restricted only when it makes a direct threat of death against another person.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {
    "f": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 2,
   "topic": "Rights and liberties",
   "title": "Hate and extremist groups",
   "statement": "They should be allowed to exist. Hate is not illegal; murder and violent crime are.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {
    "f": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 3,
   "topic": "Rights and liberties",
   "title": "Media",
   "statement": "Mass media should be bound by rules against misinformation. Because it reaches the public at scale and can indoctrinate, it is not treated like an individual speaker.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "f": -1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 4,
   "topic": "Rights and liberties",
   "title": "Surveillance",
   "statement": "Governments should surveil citizens to prevent crime and terrorism.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {
    "f": -2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 5,
   "topic": "Rights and liberties",
   "title": "Data",
   "statement": "The state should regulate what companies and platforms do with people’s data.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "e": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 6,
   "topic": "Rights and liberties",
   "title": "Collective consent",
   "statement": "Collective projects need collective consent. I oppose conscription, national service and mandatory vaccination.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "f": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 7,
   "topic": "Rights and liberties",
   "title": "Pornography",
   "statement": "The state should control access to it, with age verification.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {
    "f": -1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 8,
   "topic": "Rights and liberties",
   "title": "Gambling",
   "statement": "Private games, such as poker and cards, should be allowed under rules. Casinos, VLTs and other rigged games should be banned.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "f": -1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 9,
   "topic": "Rights and liberties",
   "title": "Body and mind enhancement",
   "statement": "People should be allowed to modify or enhance their bodies and minds with technology.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "f": 2,
    "p": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 10,
   "topic": "Life, death and the body",
   "title": "Healthcare",
   "statement": "Healthcare is a universal right and should be publicly funded.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "e": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 11,
   "topic": "Life, death and the body",
   "title": "Abortion",
   "statement": "Abortion should be legal, with limits on how late in a pregnancy it can be performed.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "f": 1,
    "p": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 12,
   "topic": "Life, death and the body",
   "title": "Assisted dying",
   "statement": "It should be legal and highly regulated, available only to the terminally ill or in cases of extreme compassion.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "f": 1,
    "p": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 13,
   "topic": "Life, death and the body",
   "title": "Drugs",
   "statement": "Drugs should be decriminalized and legalized. Consumption should be regulated and tied to a person’s health status, with access controlled and prescribed through clinics and retreats.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "f": 1,
    "p": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 14,
   "topic": "Life, death and the body",
   "title": "Sex work",
   "statement": "It should be legal and regulated.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "f": 1,
    "p": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 15,
   "topic": "Life, death and the body",
   "title": "Food and drink",
   "statement": "Foods that harm health should be heavily taxed, and the revenue should subsidize the cost of healthy food.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "e": 1,
    "f": -1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 16,
   "topic": "Life, death and the body",
   "title": "Gender and medical transition",
   "statement": "Medical transition should never be available to minors. It should be restricted to people whose frontal cortex is fully developed. People who have transitioned must always identify themselves as having done so, and may not lie about their biological identity on public documents or to members of the public.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {
    "f": -1,
    "p": -2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 17,
   "topic": "Life, death and the body",
   "title": "Sentience",
   "statement": "Sentience extends beyond humanity to other biological life and to synthetic life.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "p": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 18,
   "topic": "Family and society",
   "title": "Marriage",
   "statement": "Marriage should be only a label and should have no effect on tax status.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "f": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 19,
   "topic": "Family and society",
   "title": "Adoption",
   "statement": "Only heterosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {
    "f": -1,
    "p": -2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 20,
   "topic": "Family and society",
   "title": "Childcare",
   "statement": "Childcare and paid parental leave should be fully funded by the state.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "e": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 21,
   "topic": "Family and society",
   "title": "Education",
   "statement": "Education should be free for everyone.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "e": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 22,
   "topic": "Family and society",
   "title": "Religion in schools",
   "statement": "Schools should be free of religion unless it is studied historically or anthropologically. Religious schools should be banned.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "f": -1,
    "p": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 23,
   "topic": "Family and society",
   "title": "Housing",
   "statement": "Housing is a basic right and should not be left to the market. Every citizen should have a plot of land they can build on and live on if they choose.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "e": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 24,
   "topic": "Family and society",
   "title": "Building",
   "statement": "There should be minimal control over building, and free building should be legal. The government may inspect when health and safety are a concern.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {
    "e": -1,
    "f": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 25,
   "topic": "Family and society",
   "title": "Indigenous peoples",
   "statement": "The legal system should be harmonized, with universal laws and local bylaw governance. Property, mineral extraction and business rules may differ within Indigenous jurisdictions. Some laws, such as environmental laws, should be harmonized between local and national administration.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {}
  },
  {
   "n": 26,
   "topic": "Justice and security",
   "title": "Death penalty",
   "statement": "The death penalty should exist.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {
    "p": -1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 27,
   "topic": "Justice and security",
   "title": "Police",
   "statement": "Police should be highly trained and well funded.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {}
  },
  {
   "n": 28,
   "topic": "Justice and security",
   "title": "Prisons",
   "statement": "Prisons should focus on rehabilitation. The death penalty applies only where rehabilitation is not an option. Depending on the crime and the criminal’s history, the criminal may choose the death penalty over a life sentence.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "f": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 29,
   "topic": "Justice and security",
   "title": "Guns",
   "statement": "Everyone should be able to receive free rifle training as part of national defence. The public should be able to own hunting rifles and shotguns. Handguns should be restricted to security personnel, to civilians who need them for defence in special circumstances, and to wilderness protection, such as hiking in bear country.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "f": 0
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 30,
   "topic": "Justice and security",
   "title": "Military",
   "statement": "A strong military is needed.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {}
  },
  {
   "n": 31,
   "topic": "Government, economy and technology",
   "title": "Voting",
   "statement": "Voting should be legal for everyone over 25. Younger people would need a licence earned through an aptitude test. On top of this, votes should be weighted by knowledge, expertise and contribution.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "m": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 32,
   "topic": "Government, economy and technology",
   "title": "Head of state",
   "statement": "A head of state should never be inherited. They should be chosen through a combination of election and merit.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "m": 1,
    "p": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 33,
   "topic": "Government, economy and technology",
   "title": "Selection for jobs and university places",
   "statement": "There should be no affirmative action or quotas. Selection should be merit-based and decided by an unbiased AI.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {
    "m": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 34,
   "topic": "Government, economy and technology",
   "title": "Religion and the state",
   "statement": "The state should be based on scientific truth. It should be completely secular, free of influence from any religious group, and should not consult or engage with any religion.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "m": 1,
    "p": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 35,
   "topic": "Government, economy and technology",
   "title": "Key industries",
   "statement": "Key industries should be publicly owned, with high-level management directed by the public. Innovation and new technology, such as new mineral extraction methods, should be developed by the private sector with public grants.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "e": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 36,
   "topic": "Government, economy and technology",
   "title": "Ownership limits",
   "statement": "The state should limit how much a person or company can own.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "e": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 37,
   "topic": "Government, economy and technology",
   "title": "Wealth taxes",
   "statement": "I am undecided. AI is changing the economy so quickly that economic policy may be better decided by complex algorithms than by fixed positions.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "m": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 38,
   "topic": "Government, economy and technology",
   "title": "Universal basic income",
   "statement": "Everyone should receive one. I see it as an inevitable necessity as AI automates work.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "e": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 39,
   "topic": "Government, economy and technology",
   "title": "AI regulation",
   "statement": "AI development is of national importance. Government regulatory systems are too slow and would only hinder it, so it should be regulated by experts in the field, who work in private industry.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {
    "e": -2,
    "m": 2
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 40,
   "topic": "Government, economy and technology",
   "title": "Space and science",
   "statement": "The state should fund space exploration and large-scale scientific research, even without an immediate economic return.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "e": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 41,
   "topic": "Government, economy and technology",
   "title": "Arts and culture",
   "statement": "The state should not subsidize the arts, culture or public broadcasting.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {
    "e": -1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 42,
   "topic": "Environment",
   "title": "Climate",
   "statement": "A carbon tax is acceptable only if every dollar collected goes directly to mitigating climate change, for example atmospheric scrubbers or direct research.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {
    "e": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 43,
   "topic": "Environment",
   "title": "Nuclear power",
   "statement": "It should be expanded, though it need not be the main energy source.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {}
  },
  {
   "n": 44,
   "topic": "Environment",
   "title": "Environmental protection",
   "statement": "The state should enforce protection of the environment, even against private property rights.",
   "lean": "left",
   "axes": {
    "e": 1
   }
  },
  {
   "n": 45,
   "topic": "The wider world",
   "title": "Borders",
   "statement": "Borders should not be open. Open borders would be ideal, but we do not live in a perfect world.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {}
  },
  {
   "n": 46,
   "topic": "The wider world",
   "title": "Refugees",
   "statement": "Refugee intake should be balanced. Countries should accept refugees in extreme conditions, on the agreement that they return to their home countries within an appropriate time.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {}
  },
  {
   "n": 47,
   "topic": "The wider world",
   "title": "Citizenship",
   "statement": "Citizenship should be tied to birth and residence.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {}
  },
  {
   "n": 48,
   "topic": "The wider world",
   "title": "Foreign aid",
   "statement": "Aid should take the form of engineering expertise and infrastructure projects, such as universities, hospitals and roads, and not blank cheques. Financial payments to other countries should be banned.",
   "lean": "right",
   "axes": {}
  },
  {
   "n": 49,
   "topic": "The wider world",
   "title": "Global institutions",
   "statement": "There should be a balance of power between nations and global institutions.",
   "lean": "neither",
   "axes": {}
  }
 ]
}