🚀 go-pugleaf

This was posted in ua.test and ak.test, and I've added a few groups

>>>>> "C" == aucwa  <aucwa@orion.alaska.edu> writes:

    C> The survey has been written in such a
    C> way as to reflect disparate political viewpoints, as we have
    C> our own quite differing viewpoints.  We are attempting to do
    C> the survey from an academic, non-partisan point of view.  We
    C> are more interested in the views of the members of the
    C> Internet community than in pushing an agenda.  Again, please
    C> E-mail us if you have comments. 

I take issue with your claim that you aren't pushing an agenda.
Specifically, I have some comments about the way you've phrased your
questions.  First, let's take a look at this question:

    5)   The Federal government should help fund higher education.
	      A)Yes B)No

and now this one:
    6)   The United States government should help people displaced by
	 natural disasters. 
	      A)Yes B)No

Most of the questions where you refer to the "United States
Government" are questions that are disputed because people feel that
the FEDERAL government should not have a role in those areas.  I think
you color the question somewhat, because some people reading it could
imply it to mean that a "no" answer meant that no government entity in
the United States should help people displaced by natural disasters.

So if there is a mud slide in a small town in California, and maybe
10-20 people are displaced, perhaps the State of California should
help with no federal aid.  That is, they can handle it all on their
own.

Technically, the federal government is referred to as the "United
States Government", but when discussing domestic issues, "federal
government" is more appropriate, especially in a poll where the former
phrase obscures the issue for many.

    14)  Violent crime has increased in the last 10 years.
	     A)Yes B)No

I like that one.  It's actually remained about the same per-capita
(small decrease?).


Now lets take a look at these two questions:

    21)  Should there be a mandated Federal balanced budget even
	 though a recession such as in 1991-93 might last longer due to
	 restrictions such a law might place on spending?
	     A)Yes B)No

    13)  There should be limits on your ability to file lawsuits when
	 seeking reparations for injury.
	     A)Yes B)No

The first one, you give some sort of explanation which I see as
slanted.  The second one you personalize ("....on YOUR ability..."),
so you don't need an explanation to slant the question.  Of course the
emphasis is mine.

One more and that's the Star Wars question (question 20), which I
won't quote.  This one might be defended, on the grounds that few
people know what the "Strategic Defense Initiative" is (you didn't
even spell it out in your question, btw but used SDI instead) but
everyone knows what "Star Wars" is.  The term, however, was coined by
people who oppose it.  I found it galling when so-called objective
journalists would continue to use it, yet claim they were doing an
objective piece on the subject.

On its technical merits, btw, SDI presently has little to offer.  But
the hope that one day you could bring the effectiveness of such a
shield close to, if not at, 100%, is worth considering.  Perhaps that
too should have been inserted into your question also.

There's more I could criticize about this, but I figure I've got the
more important points.
  === Al