Originally posted at TexasKOS.com
In one of the most manipulated polls I've seen, 66% of Americans appear to be ok with the NSA spying on their phone calls.
BULL.
Polls, when done correctly, can really prove useful. But there is a reason why some polls can be misleading: they can push people to a particular answer.
I used to do telephone polls (hey, had to pay for college!) & one thing we were told over & over was to stay on script so as to not influence the person.
But even the questions had to asked properly and neutrally.
Take a closer look at the poll's methology & questions.
Here's a partial list - I'm trying to get the full poll.
This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone May 11, 2006 among 502 randomly selected adults nationwide. Margin of sampling error for overall results is plus or minus four percentage points. The practical difficulties of doing a survey in a single evening represent other potential sources of error in this or any other overnight poll. Fieldwork by TNS of Horsham, PA. = less than 0.5 percent 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bush is handling protecting Americans' privacy rights as the government investigates terrorism? Approve Disapprove No opinion
5/11/06 51 47 2
43. As it conducts the war on terrorism, do you think the United States government is or is not doing enough to protect the rights of American citizens? Doing too No
Is Is not much (vol.) opin.
5/11/06 53 45 * 1
3/5/06 46 51 1 2
6/5/05 50 46 1 2
9/7/03 69 28 * 3
12/15/02 61 35 * 3
9/8/02 74 24 * 1
6/16/02 65 30 2 3
44. What do you think is more important right now - (for the federal government to investigate possible terrorist threats, even if that intrudes on personal privacy); or (for the federal government not to intrude on personal privacy, even if that limits its ability to investigate possible terrorist threats)? Investigate Respect No threats privacy opin.
5/11/06 65 31 4
1/8/06 65 32 3
9/7/03 73 21 5
9/8/02 78 18 4
6/9/02 79 18 3
*9/7/03 and previous: "FBI" rather than "federal government"
45. It's been reported that the National Security Agency has been collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans. It then analyzes calling patterns in an effort to identify possible terrorism suspects, without listening to or recording the conversations. Would you consider this an acceptable or unacceptable way for the federal government to investigate terrorism? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat? ------- Acceptable ------ ----- Unacceptable ------ No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
5/11/06 63 41 22 35 11 24 2
46. If you found out that the NSA had a record of phone numbers that you yourself have called, would that bother you, or not? IF YES: Would it bother you a lot, or just somewhat? -----------Yes------------ NET A lot Somewhat No No opin.
5/11/06 34 24 10 66 *
47. Do you think it is right or wrong for the news media to have disclosed this secret government program? Right Wrong No opin.
5/11/06 56 42 1
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Let's go question by question.
Question 4: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bush is handling protecting Americans' privacy rights as the government investigates terrorism?
It makes sense to ask this question early. You want a control to establish an objective standard & you can't let the NSA questions color this question.
So that part makes sense.
However, it is colored by the inclusion of "terrorism" into the question. You've implicitly made privacy in opposition to battling terrorism & since no one will vote for terrorism, people have been slanted to vote Approve. You've pushed them slightly.
The question should've stopped at "Privacy Rights".
Now, look at the next question (on the site). It's begins the central focus of the poll and there are several things wrong with it.
Question 43: As it conducts the war on terrorism, do you think the United States government is or is not doing enough to protect the rights of American citizens?
First, it's Question Number 43! As someone who put himself through college working at polling companies, I can tell ya something: People are zoning out on ya by question # 15. If they were angry, they are not anymore - except that you've held them up from dinner!
Also, since I haven't seen the full list, this lateness of this question is suspect because if previous questions (like #4) have been pushing the voter, than they will have be biased by the time they arrive at this poll.
Question #4 asked about terrorism. Imagine if every single question prior to this mentioned terrorism? By the time the poller has led the respondent to this question, terrorism will greatly affect their choice.
It's like you're driving a car slightly out of alignment. It leans slowly to the right & if you don't correct it, will put you off the road.
This question should've been earlier.
Furthermore, it AGAIN mentions "terrorism" & you've again colored the question. You made privacy in opposition to the war on terrorism & it will invariably lose support.
Question 44: What do you think is more important right now - (for the federal government to investigate possible terrorist threats, even if that intrudes on personal privacy); or (for the federal government not to intrude on personal privacy, even if that limits its ability to investigate possible terrorist threats)?
I frankly don't take issue with this question except that it doesn't address the question of how spying on millions of Americans is safer.
I don't like it but it actually would fit with their overall methology of the poll.
(But I think their methodology sucks).
Question 45: It's been reported that the National Security Agency has been collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans. It then analyzes calling patterns in an effort to identify possible terrorism suspects, without listening to or recording the conversations. Would you consider this an acceptable or unacceptable way for the federal government to investigate terrorism? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
Again, this is THE question in the survey and you're putting it this late? You respondents asleep & drooling from stupor by now.
And then you add that crap in italics (my doing). First of all, we don't know what they are doing with the data - so you can't just clear the NSA from any wrong doing by this benign interpretation.
Furthermore, even if true, you've biased the question by adding your own value of the NSA program & saying "hey, we think it's ok. what do you think?". People do not like to disagree (especially after 40+ questions) & so they will go with the flow - which you've created.
Take that shit out!
Question 46: If you found out that the NSA had a record of phone numbers that you yourself have called, would that bother you, or not? IF YES: Would it bother you a lot, or just somewhat?
Ok, that's a nice way of saying the NSA got your call list. They're making it sound like it was a coincidence that the NSA had your numbers.
The question should've been phrased something that directly addresses the issue of whether you are ok with the NSA deliberately storing the numbers of people you call.
What BULL.
Furthermore, there's no "Somewhat bother" which gives people who don't want to be too harsh the ability to give a wimpy but still negative response.
Question 47: Do you think it is right or wrong for the news media to have disclosed this secret government program?
Fair question per their methodology but I don't like where it's going.
All in all this poll was pathetic. But here's an important question:
Does it Fucking matter?
If the poll was not biased and the number came back 66% ok, I'd still pound this story.
Why?
Because people can change. As this poll stated, as Shakespeare demonstrated (Friends, Romans...), as we have seen over & over, if you pound a message repeately, it will influence people.
Right now, it appears people are trying to silence the shitstorm.
Don't let them!
ACTION ALERT Update:Check out DaveV's Action alert below - CALL THEM (but be polite - don't be the Angry Left - be the Critical one!). Nice work Dave.
Update: I removed the vulgarity used in the title (F S Poo) b/c, well, it served its purpose to keep the diary from dying & became a distraction. Appreciate the understanding, humor, etc. Would've done it sooner - but um I have a life!