I am not going to claim my experience applies to everyone, but I think calling it a political tool is, at the very least, on the right track for many workplaces

I am not going to claim my experience applies to everyone, but I think calling it a political tool is, at the very least, on the right track for many workplaces. I like working for my manager, and think he is a very rational and no BS kind of person. However, I have butted heads with the upper management above him at times for what I believe are good and legitimate reasons. During my last performance review, I had to fill out all the typical questions and surveys that us grunts are forced to answer. While reading/answering some of the questions, I just get this sinking feeling that it's all just a dog and pony show. So, in a moment of distraction while filling out all the questions, I decided to go talk to my manager directly. I simply asked him to his face, "Is there any answer I can supply to these questions that will change the opinions of upper management about me?" All my manager said back was a simple, "Nope!"