Western Hemisphere--Liberal to Conservative

[nclib]

How would one rank the countries in the western hemisphere from liberal to conservative?

[angus]

ah, more laziness.  why look stuff up when you can ask uninformed cybergeeks?  being bored, I'll take a shot.

At the bottom, using the 60s American definition of "liberal" I'd suggest Cuba, at the top, the United States.

If you prefer the yuppie definition, then I'd put Canada as the most "liberal" and El Salvador as the least.  (I'll admit, I've only visited about 20 countries in the Americas, and those responses are based only on those I've visited.  A better travelled poster may have a more complete picture, but one caveat:  a Jamaican may treat you differently than he may treat another Jamaican, so be very careful not to form a political opinion about an entire nation that you only spent a week or two in, especially if you spent that week in a little piece of Los Angeles surrounded by a huge fence blocking off the view of the third world.)

[KEmperor]

Well, this is actually a very complicated question.  There are some very socially conservative Latin American states.  Economically however, they would tend to be far more liberal in the American sense of the word.

[Platypus]

ah, but what is the western hemisphere? It is just the americas, or does it include everything between GMT and the exact opposing side (+-12)/ Therefore, does it include Ireland as well, and Tonga?

I've always hated the term "Western Hemisphere". It just doesn't exist!

[KEmperor]

ah, but what is the western hemisphere? It is just the americas, or does it include everything between GMT and the exact opposing side (+-12)/ Therefore, does it include Ireland as well, and Tonga?

I've always hated the term "Western Hemisphere". It just doesn't exist!

I don't exist?  I feel rather bad about that.

[Platypus]

Well, it doesn't :S

You're the Americas, not the western hemisphere

[Hatman 🍁]

The western hemisphere does exist, otherwise there would only be half a globe lopping around in space.

[Platypus]

no, it doesn't. There is no western OR eastern hemisphere. The only hemispheres are the northern and southern.

[Gabu]

Well, actually, there would be a western and eastern hemisphere; "hemisphere" just means "half a sphere".  I'd assume that everything west of the prime meridian up to the other side of the prime meridian could be considered the "western hemisphere" (although that would mean that only half of England is in the western hemisphere).

Of course, what people mean when they say "western hemisphere" is likely "Europe, North America, and Australia", even though part of Africa, South America, and Antarctica are in the western hemisphere too.  What has come to be "the West" is not really that.

[KEmperor]

Um...no.  What people mean by the western hemisphere is Everything in North and South America, and the associated Islands in the Atlantic and the Pacific.

[Platypus]

I know what people mean-the americas-but it's impossible to define-where is the line that determines east and west; what nations are in which hemisphere, etc.

It's a personal chip on the shoulder

[English]

OK, here goes....

First Socially, that's easy.

Top 3 most liberal

#1 Canada (way out in front)
#2 US
#3 Argentina (or Brazil?)

Bottom 3 (least liberal)

#3 Haiti
#2 Trinidad & Tobago
#1 Jamaica

Economically.... (Probably got all these wrong!)

#1 Cuba
#2 Venezuela
#3 Uruguay

Least liberal

#3 US
#2 Chile
#1 Cayman Is.

[YoMartin]

OK, here goes....

First Socially, that's easy.

Top 3 most liberal

#1 Canada (way out in front)
#2 US
#3 Argentina (or Brazil?)

Bottom 3 (least liberal)

#3 Haiti
#2 Trinidad & Tobago
#1 Jamaica

Economically.... (Probably got all these wrong!)

#1 Cuba
#2 Venezuela
#3 Uruguay

Least liberal

#3 US
#2 Chile
#1 Cayman Is.

I generally agree. Uruguay is more socially liberal than Argentina and that many parts of the US, so I would put it #2 there. And I would put Chile among the less socially liberal. Economically maybe I´d change the order (#1Cayman -if we consider it a country-, #2US, #3Chile).

[Platypus]

uhm, the US i more liberal economically then Cuba by about 2000%

[patrick1]

I also must disagreee.  Liberal does not sping to mind when discussing the Cuban economy...  Authoritarian does

[English]

I also must disagreee.  Liberal does not sping to mind when discussing the Cuban economy...  Authoritarian does

True. However, it does have a welfare state, free health & free education.

[KEmperor]

I also must disagreee.  Liberal does not sping to mind when discussing the Cuban economy...  Authoritarian does

True. However, it does have a welfare state, free health & free education.

I wouldn't call it free, but yes, it has public health and education

[Bono]

No. New Zeeland, Bermuda, Somalia, Honk Kong, Singapore, are more ecnomicaly conservative than all of those.

[KEmperor]

No. New Zeeland, Bermuda, Somalia, Honk Kong, Singapore, are more ecnomicaly conservative than all of those.

Note that none of these are in the western hemisphere, except for Bermuda.

[Bono]

No. New Zeeland, Bermuda, Somalia, Honk Kong, Singapore, are more ecnomicaly conservative than all of those.

Note that none of these are in the western hemisphere, except for Bermuda.

I think by western emishpere, they mean developed world. But then, Somalia should not be there.

[English]

No. New Zeeland, Bermuda, Somalia, Honk Kong, Singapore, are more ecnomicaly conservative than all of those.

Maybe, but they're not in the Western Hemipshere.

...and Somalia?! I don't think war zones count do they? Does it even have an economy?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

No. New Zeeland, Bermuda, Somalia, Honk Kong, Singapore, are more ecnomicaly conservative than all of those.

Maybe, but they're not in the Western Hemipshere.

...and Somalia?! I don't think war zones count do they? Does it even have an economy?

Er... it has bartering. And a thriving weapons market. But from Bono's viewpoint it's obviously better than say... Sweden.

[Bono]

No. New Zeeland, Bermuda, Somalia, Honk Kong, Singapore, are more ecnomicaly conservative than all of those.

Maybe, but they're not in the Western Hemipshere.

...and Somalia?! I don't think war zones count do they? Does it even have an economy?

Er... it has bartering. And a thriving weapons market. But from Bono's viewpoint it's obviously better than say... Sweden.

Anarchy and Invention: How Does Somalia's Private Sector Cope without Government?



Hat Tip: CornerSolution through the Mises Institute Blog

[2952-0-0]

You really must explain this. Is this the government or the culture? Cuba would be very catholic if Castro didn't suppress religion.