Randy Inman
Kim K.
75% of Americans think I should be president
July 9th 2008 19:04
I had a very scientific poll. I gathered people from different age groups and political backgrounds. I had conservatives, moderates, independents, and libertarians who all agreed. There was liberal dissent, but in all 75% thought I could be a better president than anyone running.
Sounds like a pretty good poll right?
What I've neglected to tell you is that every person polled was a member of my family. My father was the conservative, sister and mother the moderates, other sister and husband the independents, me the libertarian, and my brother and his friend the liberals.
According to Rasumussen, libertarians are more likely to support Obama than McCain. I thought that was a little crazy given the fact that the majority of Libertarians I know would be more likely to identify with Republicans and Obama is anything but. I read the report and I have to say that I was unimpressed with it like I am with most polls. They counted only those that identified themselves as fiscally conservative and socially liberal as libertarian, and anyone who knows anything about libertarianism knows that there are great variations within the party. Fiscally moderate and socially liberal or fiscally conservative and socially moderate can also take in some people who would identify themselves as libertarian. Moreover, the polls did not account for the hardcore party members who would never vote for a major party candidate. They found that only 3% would vote for a third party candidate. That doesn't sound like the libertarian base that I know. If they want to know how they are voting, call only those registered as libertarian. Of course, I suppose that would exclude those who registered as Republican so they could vote for Ron Paul...see? Polls are just ridiculous wastes of time.
In 1975, a brilliant experiment was done by George F. Bishop and his team. They polled people on their opinions about the Public Affairs Act of 1975. A solid 2/3 of the people had opinions on whether the act was a good thing or not. In 1995, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the act, Bishop and the Washington Post asked voters if they thought the Act should be repealed. When told the Republican Congress wanted to repeal it, the public was divided along party lines. When told President Clinton wanted to repeal it, they were again divided.
The problem is, the Public Affairs Act of 1975 was a fabrication. Bishop and his team invented it as part of a public experiment. First, he proved that Americans will vote even if they have no knowledge of a subject. Second, he proved that they will vote along party lines when given the opportunity.
I bring this up because polls are getting out of control. Every other day we hear about the president's or congress' approval ratings. Whatever. America is just pissed off right now and I don't need anyone telling me how many of us are- I can tell for myself how angry we are when I go to the grocery store or gas station and watch people's faces as they whip out their cash or credit (usually the latter in these days). Polls tell us who is in the lead in primaries and elections. They unnecessarily wipe candidates out before they even have a shot. They can be skewed to support a particular agenda and no one takes the time to read between the lines. America needs to wake up and pollsters need to shut up.
Sounds like a pretty good poll right?
According to Rasumussen, libertarians are more likely to support Obama than McCain. I thought that was a little crazy given the fact that the majority of Libertarians I know would be more likely to identify with Republicans and Obama is anything but. I read the report and I have to say that I was unimpressed with it like I am with most polls. They counted only those that identified themselves as fiscally conservative and socially liberal as libertarian, and anyone who knows anything about libertarianism knows that there are great variations within the party. Fiscally moderate and socially liberal or fiscally conservative and socially moderate can also take in some people who would identify themselves as libertarian. Moreover, the polls did not account for the hardcore party members who would never vote for a major party candidate. They found that only 3% would vote for a third party candidate. That doesn't sound like the libertarian base that I know. If they want to know how they are voting, call only those registered as libertarian. Of course, I suppose that would exclude those who registered as Republican so they could vote for Ron Paul...see? Polls are just ridiculous wastes of time.
In 1975, a brilliant experiment was done by George F. Bishop and his team. They polled people on their opinions about the Public Affairs Act of 1975. A solid 2/3 of the people had opinions on whether the act was a good thing or not. In 1995, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the act, Bishop and the Washington Post asked voters if they thought the Act should be repealed. When told the Republican Congress wanted to repeal it, the public was divided along party lines. When told President Clinton wanted to repeal it, they were again divided.
The problem is, the Public Affairs Act of 1975 was a fabrication. Bishop and his team invented it as part of a public experiment. First, he proved that Americans will vote even if they have no knowledge of a subject. Second, he proved that they will vote along party lines when given the opportunity.
I bring this up because polls are getting out of control. Every other day we hear about the president's or congress' approval ratings. Whatever. America is just pissed off right now and I don't need anyone telling me how many of us are- I can tell for myself how angry we are when I go to the grocery store or gas station and watch people's faces as they whip out their cash or credit (usually the latter in these days). Polls tell us who is in the lead in primaries and elections. They unnecessarily wipe candidates out before they even have a shot. They can be skewed to support a particular agenda and no one takes the time to read between the lines. America needs to wake up and pollsters need to shut up.
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