tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818093269633957234.post765609531046983182..comments2024-01-11T08:20:02.857-08:00Comments on Word to the wise...: PollsWord to the wise...http://www.blogger.com/profile/04356128595159889017noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818093269633957234.post-68144645655035645572022-10-12T13:36:24.030-07:002022-10-12T13:36:24.030-07:00Well put, Randal. As some thinking people might be...Well put, Randal. As some thinking people might be tempted to say, "Q.E.D.!"Rodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818093269633957234.post-39569992575639716952022-10-12T10:51:26.063-07:002022-10-12T10:51:26.063-07:00The best advice I have come across for evaluating ...The best advice I have come across for evaluating the significance of polls is to find out what the question was, and then ask how you would answer it.<br />For example: "How many people in America are 'thinking people'."? To my mind, the answer depends on how high the bar is for what constitutes a thinking person. My answer could be 10% or 90%.<br /><br />I was reminded of this when I came across a quote supposedly by Adlai Stevenson, who lost an election to Dwight Eisenhower back in the mid-1950s.<br />Stevenson was considered an egghead, while Eisenhower was more in touch with the common people.<br /><br />The story is that when Adlai Stevenson was on the campaign trail in 1956 a voice called out from the crowd: "Every thinking person in America will be voting for you!"<br />Stevenson replied, "I'm afraid that won't do. I need a majority."Randal Marlinnoreply@blogger.com