The basis of all political beliefs can be summarised with a single value on a one-dimensional scale. Every person (including politicians) has a figurative boundary line around them that they construct. Inside this circle are people they care about (us). Outside the circle are people they do not care about, other than in some general sense of religious or humane obligation (them). Each individual's political beliefs are summarised very accurately by the size of their "us versus them" circle. We could establish a standard scale of measurement for this, so we could all understand a candidate's or party's position relative to other candidates or parties.
For example, a 1 on this scale is a Solipsist: Somebody who does not even believe that other people exist. A 2 indicates someone who cares only about their immediate family. A 3 cares about all people like themselves in his community. As you approach the other end of the scale, a 9 includes all of the humans in the world as well as all the "cute" animals. A 10 is so "cosmically aware" he won't even use antibiotics because that would kill some bacteria.
If we had such a standard scale, then an impartial analysis of a politician's voting record, statements, and even their self-description could lead to a public consensus value for that candidate that everyone could understand, before they vote. No more nasty surprises when the one you voted for does something you never expected!
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Speaking as someone who has been involved in politics off and on for 20 years, politics is not a linear scale.
Who people care about isn't the issue, it's what actions they think that making this care a realtity requires.
You can see something like this at Voter Information Services' Congressional Report Cards. They compare congressional voting records and bill cosponsorship with the positions of many special interest groups to create a graph showing how the position of the congressperson matches the position of the special interest group.
Dungeons and Dragons uses an interesting device while creating a character for play called Alignment. It consists of two perpendicular axes, Lawful-Neutral-Chaos and Good-Neutral-Evil, and a player can be Lawful-Evil, Chaotic-Good, etc. (there are nine possibilities).
Another analogous scheme is called the the Geek Code. Multiple dimensions of human behavior/beliefs are listed and scaled (with modifiers available), and the resulting code tells one everything(?) they need to know about a persons geekiness in a medium length, easy-to-read-with-practice stanza.
I like the idea, but it would be a lot of work to run, and care would have to be taken to prevent the "playing" of the metric by those being tracked (like stock price and CEOs).
Very Pollyana-ish. (Unfortunately.)
I have to agree with the first comment: political beliefs aren't linear in a way that would make for a nice graphic or measurement. Especially, I think, in the way you describe here. I won't infer your political beliefs, but I imagine that a large segment of people (namely Democrats, liberals, socialists, etc.) would classify me as a low number - a 1 or 2 - when in reality I "care about" people too (maybe an 8 or a 9 as you describe it). I just happen to think that there are different - proven, successful - ways of helping people other than enlarging the presence of government in their lives.
i tend to agree w/ggrotke on the majority of his commentary--but... in reality i don't think that anyone (or anything) on this planet or any other could honestly (thats a good politician word) claim that they whole heartedly fall into any of the 10 catergories proposed by the writer. for example: i feel that there are many out there that consider themselves to be a hardcore 2 or 3 -- but in reality there is ALWAYS something in one of the other 8 distinctions mentioned that these self indentifying 2s and 3s agree with; such as a 5 or a 6 or even a 10 may have an attribute that the afforementioned 2s and/or 3s can sympathise with. sooo.. to sum it up i don't feel that anyone or anything can meet all the requirements of any single number, there aren't too many things in this life that ALWAYS OR NVER are the case!...on that note these are some of the issues that make this world and especially this country such a great place to be a part of! ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO PICK ANY OF THESE CATERGORIES TO 100% IDENTIFY WITH. HE/ SHE/ IT WHOEVER OR WHATEVER THE WANT TO BE; BUT THIS DOES'NT COME W/O A PRICE-----UNFORTUNATELY STEROTYPING, CLASS DISTINCTION, PERCEPTION, AND OF COURSE RACISM ARE STILL VERY MUCH A PART OF THIS GLOBE WE ALL INHABIT!~!!!!