The Latest Polls

**Lemur** · 01-28-2006, 05:55

Gallup just released a wide-ranging poll of American opinions, ripe for derision and dismissal from everyone who thinks polls are bunk, except when the polls agree with them.

I'm thrilled to see that 3% of Americans are very concerned with national debt and spending! Woo-hoo! I'm part of a tiny, insignificant minority! Let's hear it for the marginalization of the budget hawks! Today 3%, tomorrow the world!

Please feel free to discuss, deride, debunk and debate what these polls mean.

**KukriKhan** · 01-28-2006, 07:35

My favorite Pole always told me:
Nie zawracaj mi głowy, nie widzisz, że jestem zajęty/zajęta ?

"don't disturb me, don't you see I'm busy ?", even tho' "busy" seemed to involve cracking open a new bottle of vodka. Sit with him quietly for 20 minutes or so, and he'd offer to share. After two shots together, THEN you could talk (tho' I was merely delivering my monthly rent check).

Protocol, respect for procedure, is everything to some folks.

Oh.

Polls.

Right. 65% of those polled think we're going to hell in a handbasket. But only 42% manage to vote. Screw their opinion, IMO. We get the government, and direction, we deserve.

**Major Robert Dump** · 01-28-2006, 12:35

There are two types of people in this world: Those who divide people into two types, and those who don't.

Polls are stupid. They influence the very thing they are supposed to be reflecting. Voter polls while an election is still going on should
fkin be illegal. And the idea of using "offical" polls to determine if a candidate should be on a ballot or be able to participate in a debate is retarded. LOL, debates are supposed to affect polls, not the other way around.

The vast majority of polls to guage peoples opinion on a geopolitical scale has some predetermined agenda. And then people see that 50.5% support something so they change their mind and support it too. And then you must consider how the poll was worded, was it writtne or phone call, did they hit you up in the mall or call you while you were watching American Idol? Yay.

Polls should be for crap like finding out what cake mix you use, or what your favorite movie is, not for politics.

**Reenk Roink** · 01-28-2006, 15:43

Originally Posted by Lemurmania

Gallup just released a wide-ranging poll of American opinions, ripe for derision and dismissal from everyone who thinks polls are bunk, except when the polls agree with them.

I'm thrilled to see that 3% of Americans are very concerned with national debt and spending! Woo-hoo! I'm part of a tiny, insignificant minority! Let's hear it for the marginalization of the budget hawks! Today 3%, tomorrow the world!

Please feel free to discuss, deride, debunk and debate what these polls mean.

Polls aren't bunk, people have just got to understand statistics in order to properly use them. Taken from the last sentence of this poll:

"In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls."

**BDC** · 01-28-2006, 16:02

Originally Posted by Reenk Roink

Polls aren't bunk, people have just got to understand statistics in order to properly use them. Taken from the last sentence of this poll:

"In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls."

Yes, wording a question can change the responses a lot.

"Do you agree with the death penalty?"
"Do you believe in state-sanctioned murder?"
"Do you agree with the execution of this baby-killing paedophilic drug dealer?"

**Slyspy** · 01-28-2006, 17:19

Nope, polls are bunk. Especially when fed to the media for public consumption.

**IrishMike** · 01-28-2006, 19:54

I'm glad to see people think things are getting worse. Perhaps then we can pull ourselves back off this slippery slope of government power and put things back in persepective.

**Lemur** · 01-29-2006, 21:39

If you're interested, here's a much more detailed breakdown of the polls, with comparative results going back to 1999.

**KukriKhan** · 01-29-2006, 22:15

Cooler stuff Lemur, thanks. I guess it's not polls per se that bug, as much as the generalized summary statements the pollsters make to the TV/radio squawking heads that annoys.

I wonder: Has anyone here ever been called personally by WaPo/ABC to answer polls?

Or other polling organizations?

Me? Never.

**Lemur** · 01-30-2006, 05:24

I've been contacted twice, I think. Both times I told the caller to do something rude that rhymes with "luck toff." I'm a sad man, scarred by too many phone solicitors. Spam calls have made me mean and edgy.

Well, to be honest, I didn't have time for surveys, and I was suspicious they'd try to sell me something. So I guess I am a sad, bitter man after all.

**Gawain of Orkeny** · 01-30-2006, 05:30

I wonder: Has anyone here ever been called personally by WaPo/ABC to answer polls?

Or other polling organizations?

Havent I mentioned I do this for a living at times?

I've been contacted twice, I think. Both times I told the caller to do something rude that rhymes with "luck toff." I'm a sad man, scarred by too many phone solicitors. Spam calls have made me mean and edgy.

Well, to be honest, I didn't have time for surveys, and I was suspicious they'd try to sell me something. So I guess I am a sad, bitter man after all

I hate when that happens. I usually dont have a problem as Im calling for a university doing research. The political ones are my favorites by far. Its really hard to stay proffessional and not lead or interject your own opinions into the matter. Especially for me