So, some polling companies make things up. Who can we trust these days? Apparently not DataUSA.
A polling company contacted me a few nights ago and I agreed to
submit to their questions. It was a fascinating exercise. It was very
clear from the outset that there was a dual purpose to the poll; one to
gather information to be digested by the \”pols\” and two, to serve as
advertising for one of the candidates.
\”Paper is patient\” reads the old German expression. Paper will accept
whatever is printed upon it whether truth or lie. Polling lies a quantum
leap beyond this pearl of Prussian cynicism.
The framing of each question was designed to construct a specific
response but because of faulty wordsmanship, all that remained was a
house of cards. The rubble of the Kerry campaign should have provided
pollsters extra incentive to do their level-best to accurately reflect
the opinions of those they poll rather than manipulate the questions for
the purpose of shoehorning the resulting data into pre-cast modular
constructs.
One question went something like this; \”Given that the corrupt
conservative Republican candidate is a personal friend of Jack Abramoff,
that the candidate had voted against women, children, the elderly and
veterans, that his wife unethically handles his fundraising, and that he
voted for the administration\’s failed policies in Iraq, would you more
or less inclined to vote for his opponent who has served his country for
20 years in the military?\” What kind of question is this? This went on
for 40 minutes.
It was all worthwhile however, as the questioner ultimately confided
that our conversation had caused her to rethink her previously held
position. Herein lies the point; when given correct information people
will usually make the appropriate and proper determinations. As long as
people look to the facts instead of the manipulated polling data, they
will ordinarily choose wisely.
When, on Election Day 2004, the Kerry campaign was going wild over the
polling data that predicted a Kerry victory, they were in fact being
deceived by their own deceptive polling. They had not crafted the
questions to reveal the reality of the situation but rather to yield a
particular result.
Most of the polls we hear about are very much like this. Those who
engage in this activity are only deluding themselves. Before believing
the results of any poll, go to the website and review the questions. You
will be able to immediately tell whether or not the poll was designed to
ascertain the truth or to create an illusion.
What questions are the Democrats asking to make them appear to be the
most desirable candidates in the upcoming election? The answers are not
nearly as revealing as the questions.