I recently checked out an online survey that was supposed to help people find out if they were more liberal or conservative. As I read I could easily tell which answer to each question was the liberal or conservative one. After reading a few options I realized that this survey was somewhat biased. Many of the questions were based around one point of view. Look at the following example.

Question: How do you feel about bananas?
Answer 1: I love them and eat them for every meal of the day.
Answer 2: I hate them, never eat them, and think that they are bad.

What about people who like to eat bananas every once in a while or even enjoy one a day, but not for every meal? Many issues are portrayed this way where one side takes an extreme stance and then portrays the other side as taking the opposite extreme.

One of the most common issues portrayed in this manner (and specifically in the survey mentioned above) is the environment. One side takes the stance that we should inconvenience ourselves to save our environment. Then they portray that the other side feels that businesses should be able to do whatever they want no matter how much it hurts the environment. Does anyone really think that the entire population is so polarized on this issue? No, I think that the majority of the population sits somewhere in the middle, feeling that we should protect our environment and take care of our planet, but we should also find a balance where we can utilize the rich resources of this earth. Many people find themselves in the middle on this issue and feel that since they care about the environment that they have to take the liberal side. But, I know lots of very conservative people who care greatly about the environment, are consistent recyclers, and don’t feel that businesses should be able to run wild in polluting the environment.

Why are stances portrayed in this manner? What gives one side the right to define the stance of the other side by taking an extreme position and claiming that anyone who disagrees believes the opposite extreme? It is ridiculous just like our banana example above. Does everyone have to either love or hate bananas? Why can’t we have varying opinions in the middle? Why do we have to take sides on every issue? I end up calling a lot of these non-partisan issues, which is what the environment would be if one side didn’t take such an extreme stance. Another non-partisan issue is music getting cut in school. Many liberals speak out against music getting cut and seem to think that since they are against the cuts then conservatives are for them. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most conservatives are against music getting cut as well. It is the politicians, businesses, and government institutions that cut these programs to focus on math and science instead of providing a well-rounded education.

Hopefully questionnaires in the future will not promote the extreme beliefs of one party and look a little more like the following.

Question: How do you feel about bananas?
Answer 1: I love them and eat them for every meal of the day.
Answer 2: I like to have one every now and then.
Answer 3: I don’t really care for them but I don’t hate them
Answer 4: I hate them, never eat them, and think that they are bad