Thanks to Phil Yantis for posting this test. I have seen tests like this
before, i.e. same principle of X and Y axes but different questions. The
answers only serve to give credence to the question. It is the questions
that matter.

The listers must pardon the fact that my memory is not what it once was and
I don't remember all of the questions. I do remember one and I think it is
typical of many of the questions. The question asked was something like "Sex
between 2 consenting adults is OK but we have gone too far." Is my answer a
referendum on "Sex is OK" or is it a referendum on "We have gone too far."
The imprecise nature of the question is not an accident. Designing
questionaires and polls is a very sophisticated business.

The basic point that this site was trying to make, there is more to
socio/political/economic theory/philosophy than the one Right/Left axis, is
not diminished by the questions asked. What I am trying to say is this:
Watch what questions are being asked. As we move into the final year of the
2004 presidential election campaign this is even more important.

Watch the questions asked in the polls. I don't mean the "When did you stop
beating your wife?" type questions. I mean the questions that presume
certain truths. Questions like, "Are we committing enough troops in Iraq?"
or "How fast should we pull all of our troops out of Iraq?" presume certain
attitudes on the part of the respondent and do not allow them to disagree
with the premise.

More importantly, watch the questions the candidates ask. Every candidate
has the answer to every question. The cram for these questions just like a
college kid before midterms. To really see what the candidate is going to do
look at the questions they ask. This wiil tell you what is on their minds,
what they want to look into and change.

Just my thoughts.

Pray for Peace,
Yosef

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