Election After Math

 

The election polling industry in this country is nothing more than cheap fodder for the news sections of the country's newspapers, radio and television news departments.

 

Instead of examining the issues, talking to the people on the street, or grilling the favourite candidates of the news organizations in question, you get cut and paste journalism. 

 

The election coverage should really be put in the sports section as it is now just the reporting of a horse race.

 

Polling now, is not representative of much more than the people who were either unfortunate enough to pick up the phone when a telephone solicitor calls, or are lonely and speak english. Having a heart beat is an option.

 

Think about it.

 

The pollster asks a simple question or set of questions to an issue as important and difficult to answer or figure out as solutions to our health care system, our national unity, education, or the environment. These are questions that our elected leaders down the ages have not been able to easily solve.

 

It leaves out those that have only a wireless cell phone, aren't home because they are out working, going to school or clubbing, and those that don't speak english.

 

If the phone call comes during the day, it leaves out those that work during the day. If it comes at supper-time, you get people giving answers quick and not thought out, so they can get back to their Kraft Dinner while it is still hot.

 

How can a poll of 1,500 randomly selected people, give any sort of snap shot of opinion of a country of 35,000,000, stretching from sea to sea, to sea? It can't. The polling company does not spend anytime doing any sort of demographic clustering so they get a sampling of the proper make up of Canada.

 

How can polling be accurate when it does not call back the same people from week to week, to track their opinions and how they might have changed? What issues made them change their minds, or solidify their choices?

 

How can a poll be reported on without reporting the number of undecided, or the number of people who just aren't going to vote, or their reasons for not voting or for being undecided? Would it not be interesting to find out what it would take to get those people who aren't going to vote, back into the voting booth?

 

Keep in mind that the people doing the telephoning get paid for the most part by the number of completed surveys. Not by the quality nor the following of good statistical best practices.

 

The polling industry has only been masterfull in dousing any sort of vision our politicians may have for Canada in the future, because of the addiction they have built in their users for the false sense of security put in the polling results.

 

 

Thank you

Norm Greenfield

RE: CanadianAlly http://www.canadianally.com

Joe:

 

I think it is time we brag a little about what Canada has done in conjunction with, or on our own in either the war on terror, or in other areas of concern in the world. Many, with out the help or interest of the American Armed Forces or the American peopleor media.

 

If you take a look at the recent events that have happened with our troops in Afghanistan alone, the American media does not notice, does not care, nor reports on them.

 

I get immediate newsers from Canadian Press and watch CNN for anything about them. Nothing.

 

Taking the word to the people in Washington DC is a step in the right direction.

 

Making sure the American media are reporting on these issues, and spends more time on just how good of a neighbour we really are, and that we are helping them secure the border, as best we can. The leaks and holes in the border and homeland security are more of a cause due to the American's not spending their money wisely.

 

As for the report this past week on the amount of dope crossing the border and that it is fueling or could be fueling either organized crime or terrorism is a laugh. Drugs are how the Americans fuel friends in Columbia, and funded the war in Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and Vietnam. They have a long track record of using drugs to fund the CIA's work to install puppets and it backfiring against them.

 

It is rather interesting that the Al Queda's fight against the US in Iraq and Afghanistan is funded by the opium crops that make heroin to sell on the streets of New York and L.A.

 

Canada has nothing to be ashamed of, and much to be proud when it comes to the work our military does in the world now, in the past and will do in the future. We need to tell their stories better, to both Canadians and the world.

 

The military must get out of their current mindset in the way they talk to Canadians about what they do, and start taking thier stories to the streets and schools.

 

Norm