Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

*Liberalism is an ideology that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity, and the belief in the value of social and political change in order to achieve progress. Conservativism is a political ideology that favors more limited and local government, less government regulation of markets, and more social conformity to traditional norms and values. In today’s lesson we use liberal and Democrat as synonyms; and conservative and Republican interchangeably.

1. According to the visual above, what brand is most bipartisan (that is, what brand can liberals/Democrats and conservatives/Republicans most agree on)?

2. Based on the visual below*, describe the general demographic demographic makeup of a liberal/Democrat.

3. Based on the visual below*, describe the general demographic demographic makeup of a conservative/Republican.

4. Which of the political ideologies shown below* best describes you?

5. According to the visuals above and below* what would you identify as the most polarized (the most beloved by one party and hated by the other) brand in America.

6. We know American politics is extremely polarized, that is, our country is divided into two sharply contrasting groups in terms of their political opinions and beliefs. Some people blame our division and polarization on the media. Others blame it on where we live. Why do you think America is so polarized?

7. How do you think this polarization of business will impact the 2024 presidential elections?

8. If you had to evaluate the brands and companies on the list above, which would you classify as favorable and which would you classify as unfavorable?

9. They say that people either go to Cracker Barrel or go to Whole Foods, but very few people go to both. In fact, over the past few years I’ve only had one student say they regularly go to both! Can you think of another equally polarizing divide in your experience?

10. Is there any part of American life that is not polarized?

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

Try to get a group of 5 to 10 polarized people to get together for lunch at school. Describe how hard it was to get the group together and what the lunch was like. Or, if it was too hard to gather polarized people, take our How Do We Vote? challenge.

Get Creative

Write the words for an ad for a bipartisan brand that would appeal to the most bipartisan slice of Americans (people of both parties).

Learn More*

Read this story from Morning Consult about why pizza chains are more popular among Republicans! Listen to this amazing podcast about why we are so polarized.