> Who says where the 0 point of a left-right spectrum is?
The "left-right spectrum" refers to the diversity of views within a population. The zero point is the median position of that population.
> Who says where the 0 point of a left-right spectrum is?
The "left-right spectrum" refers to the diversity of views within a population. The zero point is the median position of that population.
So by this very definition it's mathematically wrong to have a single axis for all that.
Also, median person or position? The first is definable, the latter is hardly. There is no neutral/middle position in binary questions. What's a neutral position in abortion? Only allow half of them based on coin flips?
Any problems are inherent in the left-right metaphor.
To speed-run your second paragraph: (1) Absolutely the median person for any given question. (2) Suggesting that there's anything "neutral" about a median position is to catastrophically mix metaphors. They aren't remotely synonymous. (3) The failure of a highly partisan person to acknowledge gradations doesn't mean they don't exist.