POLLS

POLLS

Every 4 years we have a presidential campaign in this country.(so that we can spread the blame) And since it happens just like clock work, it seems the potential candidates try to get an earlier start on the old campaign trail each time around.(just like Christmas shopping in October).

Personally I think they tend to overdo it a little, but the 24 hour cable news networks couldn’t be happier. It seems like every night for 2 years the news shows talk about each candidates approval rating and elect ability. They substantiate these predictions by the use of polls. They hire pollsters,( I wonder how you get to be a pollster….and would that make me grillster, or a jokester) who query a random sample of voters and then extrapolate what % of the general public, interest group, or even the entire nation would hold similar views. Sometimes these mathematical assumptions are based on input from a very limited test group, and many times the questions are framed or asked in a manner that elicit a certain response.

There are phone polls, internet polls, brass poles, exit polls, straw polls, and fishing poles. I’m not taking anything away from the pollsters but sometimes these nightly results seem a little self serving. I also question their choice of target groups. For instance yesterday they were trying to prove that Hillary’s “likeabilty” rating was moving up. At the bottom of the TV screen they flashed. “this phone survey conducted on 50 democratic overweight overbearing women, that wear pantsuits and are married to philandering men, and sure enough 7 out of 10, loved Hillary.

I’m thinking, if this logic works for the pollsters, than I should be able to use the same system in my own dealings, or to prove my own theories. For instance just last night in the bar, I polled 5 highly inebriated women drinkers.(ok …forget about that one)

I also sent out what I can only refer to as a mailbox opinion poll to every neighbor within one mile of my house.(wearing a ski mask and under the cover of darkness) The question was “ would you prefer casino style gambling (only 2 nights a week, and tastefully done.. valet parking and all) at that Italian guys house down the street…. or an annex and summer home for San Quinton State prison. Out of the few responses I got (not counting all the hate mail, death threats, and 4 flat tires)…the likely enemies, all went with the write in answer… “go blank yourself”, or ..I’m calling the police again…Should I take that as a Yes..( I think the results fall with the margin of error)

Ok..so I guess I don’t quite have the patience and finesse to be a pollster. I more lean toward the “its better to ask for forgiveness than beg for approval” school of thought anyway. I can’t even get a consensus at work or around the dinner table, never mind trying to figure out what the whole nations wants to do.

Maybe one last attempt at a poll…For those of you that really liked this blog, please e-mail me…and for those that didn’t…your opinion is equally important, so tell me what you think at my other web site www.mindyourownblank’inbusiness.com

Until Latter
P.I.B.