Every newspaper and most media make use of daily statistical opinion polls for the most important reason to attract their audience. I have no objection to the use of statistical polling in the area of entertainment and private business, but I adamantly reject the widespread use of statistical polling in the area of public policies.

I understand today that many Americans still believe Iraq supported Al Qaeda, and that Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)[1]. In addition, we are beginning to understand how the Bush administration pursues belligerent foreign policies, which are secretive, void of critical thinking and which divide and spread corruption between people[2] [3].

We cannot pursue public policies based on opinion polls because these opinion polls do not reflect the democratic values of people at large. In fact, opinion results don’t reflect the deep understanding of the respondents; the polls are possibly planned to satisfy hidden interests; the respondents are not representative of people at large; and these polls reinforce the intent of the conventional media to brainwash rather than properly inform and educate their audience.

Few days ago I was watching the CNN show with Anderson Cooper and I was appalled when he polled the audience with the question "Is it important that Saddam Hussein get a fair trial?" As far as I am concerned, I cannot ever imagine a civil justice system which is not fair, and this brings me to think again that these CNN gurus are a bunch of super paid talking heads sustaining ignorance and division among their audience.

Also, few days ago I came across an Iraqi opinion poll conducted by Oxford Research International reporting that the majority of people said "that things were going well or quite well in their lives" after one year of the American occupation[4]. So in light of the present escalated violence in Iraq I question the critical thinking of the social engineers at the Oxford Research International.

This is a mad world and I am getting so disturbed that our own experts use their statistical researches to spread the gospel according to President Bush.

References

Pertinent past article published in Ensign

1. THE PIPA/KNOWLEDGE NETWORKS POLL Americans Continue to Believe Iraq Supported Al Qaeda, Had WMD April 22, 2004 http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Iraq/IraqPressRelease4_22_04.pdf

2. 60 MINUTES Woodward Shares War Secrets April 18, 2004 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/15/60minutes/main612067.shtml

3. Regan, Tom Operation kickback? Report alleges 20 percent of Iraq reconstruction costs lost to corruption (PDF) April 23, 2004 csmonitor.com, http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0423/dailyUpdate.html

4. THE PIPA/KNOWLEDGE NETWORKS POLL Americans Continue to Believe Iraq Supported Al Qaeda, Had WMD April 22, 2004 http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Iraq/IraqPressRelease4_22_04.pdf