Polls: Opinion or Fact?

[Adam's Apple]

Opinion Masquerading as Reason
By Thomas Brewton, New Media Journal
January 30, 2007

Nobody is an expert in all areas of knowledge. Yet, from foreign policy to economics, we give undue weight to opinion polls.

No matter what politicians and the media make of them, opinion polls, for example, evidencing very low approvals for President Bush and his Iraq policies are not of themselves a rational basis for pulling out of Iraq. One highly important reason is that the public hears mostly one side of the argument. Politicians, media, and pressure groups urging a troop pull-out have never addressed the follow-on costs to national security, our economy, and our future diplomatic relations with the rest of the world.

As the issue has been presented, it is the equivalent of asking the public if they would like to live a life of ease at the beach, without informing them of the cost to do so.

Thomas Sowell's recent column gives an example of the irrationality, in an economic issue, of equating opinion with reason.

In addition to the fact that most opinion poll respondents don't have an understanding of the subject of the poll, several factors inherent in polling account for the disconnect between public opinion and reality.

(These factors are discussed in the rest of the article.)

For full article:
http://www.newmediajournal.us/guest/brewton/01302007.htm

 

[Bullypulpit]

" Can Voters Make the Decision to Pull Out of Iraq?" The voters spoke in November. Chimpy McPresident, however, steadfastly refuses to listen. We, the people...have seen the facts on the ground and the facts surrounding the events leading to the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and have thus formed the opinion that the war is wrong, and was wrong from its inception.

Given that, before the mid-terms in November...Before Chimpy's poll numbers headed into the crapper many here, and on the Right in general, loudly and vociferously defended and espoused the "will of the majority" and "majority rule". Now that a majority of Americans oppose Administation policy in Iraq and the worm has turned, so to speak, the "will of the people" is of questionable value and to be regarded as irrelevant. Never mind that the government is supposedly beholden to the "will of the people".

Does the majority rule? Is the will of the people to be listened to? Or are we a monarchy, ruled by a mad king?

 

[red states rule]

" Can Voters Make the Decision to Pull Out of Iraq?" The voters spoke in November. Chimpy McPresident, however, steadfastly refuses to listen. We, the people...have seen the facts on the ground and the facts surrounding the events leading to the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and have thus formed the opinion that the war is wrong, and was wrong from its inception.

Given that, before the mid-terms in November...Before Chimpy's poll numbers headed into the crapper many here, and on the Right in general, loudly and vociferously defended and espoused the "will of the majority" and "majority rule". Now that a majority of Americans oppose Administation policy in Iraq and the worm has turned, so to speak, the "will of the people" is of questionable value and to be regarded as irrelevant. Never mind that the government is supposedly beholden to the "will of the people".

Does the majority rule? Is the will of the people to be listened to? Or are we a monarchy, ruled by a mad king?

So now we run war based on polls?

As a lib, you have no desire to fight and win this war. Like most libs you are to busy fighting your war on Bush

The terrorists thank you for your continued support

 

[LOki]

The prescise reason the US is not a pure democracy resides in the valid observation that it is a relative minority that fully comprehends a particular issue, and it is a majority that is most often wrong about it.

 

[Bullypulpit]

The prescise reason the US is not a pure democracy resides in the valid observation that it is a relative minority that fully comprehends a particular issue, and it is a majority that is most often wrong about it.

Not in this case, I should think.

 

[Annie]

Not in this case, I should think.

I think what you think, is wrong. But I think you are sincere, though blinded by your prejudice for the administration.

 

[William Joyce]

If the leaders are doing a job I approve of, I don't care what the people think. It's time for leadership!

If the leaders are doing a job I don't approve of, I care what the people think only if the people agree with me. Now it's time for the people to speak!

See how easy that is?

 

[red states rule]

Not in this case, I should think.

The terrorists hope you win this one BP

 

[Emmett]

Screw it, let's leave Iraq! Lets discharge all reserve military, confiscate all handguns from their owners, take away all money from folks who have more than 100,000 dollars, invite everyone in the world to come and live here, raise the minimum wage to 45.00 per hour, triple all ss payments, raise taxes to 75%, Close down all factories that have smokestacks, ban cars, stop using nuclear power and destroy all airplanes, construction equipment, diesel engines and all internal combustion motors.

From now on when someone dies, all their assets go to the government. That way welfare will have plenty of money. Outlaw cutting down trees, killing fish, shooting deer, we will all have to eat tofu and lettuce.

All of this will be well worth it folks because as you realize there will be no furthur need for Democrats!

 

[Annie]

Screw it, let's leave Iraq! Lets discharge all reserve military, confiscate all handguns from their owners, take away all money from folks who have more than 100,000 dollars, invite everyone in the world to come and live here, raise the minimum wage to 45.00 per hour, triple all ss payments, raise taxes to 75%, Close down all factories that have smokestacks, ban cars, stop using nuclear power and destroy all airplanes, construction equipment, diesel engines and all internal combustion motors.

From now on when someone dies, all their assets go to the government. That way welfare will have plenty of money. Outlaw cutting down trees, killing fish, shooting deer, we will all have to eat tofu and lettuce.

All of this will be well worth it folks because as you realize there will be no furthur need for Democrats!

I tried that diet, didn't like it.

 

[mattskramer]

Opinion Masquerading as Reason
By Thomas Brewton, New Media Journal
January 30, 2007

Nobody is an expert in all areas of knowledge. Yet, from foreign policy to economics, we give undue weight to opinion polls.

No matter what politicians and the media make of them, opinion polls, for example, evidencing very low approvals for President Bush and his Iraq policies are not of themselves a rational basis for pulling out of Iraq.

For full article:
http://www.newmediajournal.us/guest/brewton/01302007.htm

As I have often said, particularly with respect to the issue of gay marriage, the popularity of something or the unpopularity of something does not make that thing right or wrong.

 

[Adam's Apple]

" Can Voters Make the Decision to Pull Out of Iraq?" The voters spoke in November.

Bully, did you even read the article, or did you just get to “Can Voters Make the Decision to Pull Out of Iraq?” (the title of Brewton’s previous article) and go “AHA!” Brewton’s article does not deal with elections but with opinion polls. How does your response in any way respond to the question of whether opinion polls actually reflect the facts/reality of an issue or are merely concealed opinion?