burlingtonfreepress.com

Sponsored by:

vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen


8.08.2006

 

Poll positions

Another week, another poll. This week's poll, by Rasmussen Reports, puts the leaders in Vermont's Senate and governor's races farther ahead of their closest rivals than the American Research Group survey had them, but not dramatically so. Rasmussen didn't poll the state's nip-and-tuck House race, but by Monday afternoon, they were acknowledging that next time they poll the state, they'll be checking in on that race, too.

Actually, The most interesting stuff in the Rasmussen poll were the answers Vermonters gave when asked a series of questions about their views on a couple of cultural issues and the state of politics in our country today. Here's some treats from the Rasmussen menu of questions.

The most important issue in this election?
Economy 32 percent
Immigration 8 percent
Government corruption 12 percent
National security 13 percent
War in Iraq 25 percent
Same-sex marriage 1 percent
Some other issue 8 percent
Not sure 2 percent

Confidence that ballots are properly counted?
Very confident 29 percent
Somewhat confident 36 percent
Not very confident 22 percent
Not confident at all 11 percent
Not sure 2 percent

Are large numbers of eligible voters being prevented from voting?
Yes 28 percent
No 40 percent
Not sure 32 percent

Is American political system badly broken?
Yes 63 percent
No 24 percent
Not sure 12 percent

Should marriage be defined as a union between a man and woman, or just between two people?
Between man and woman 44 percent
Between any two people 49 percent
Not sure 7 percent

Do you believe the Bible is literally true?
Yes 22 percent
No 59 percent
Not sure 18 percent

On the abortion issue, are you pro-choice or pro-life?
Pro-choice 68 percent
Pro-life 24 percent
Not sure 8 percent

--Sam Hemingway

Comments:
"Do you believe the Bible is literally true?
Yes 22 percent
No 59 percent
Not sure 18 percent"

I think this is a poorly phrased poll question. "Literal" seems to have two meanings, one which I would characterize as factual, i.e. without allegory or exaggeration. The other is one of emphasis, such as when someone says "I was so happy I was literally walking on air."

So, how was the question interpreted by the respondents:

1) "Do you believe the bible an entirely factual description of events that actually occured?"

or

2) "Do you believe the Bible is very true?"

I suspect the goal of the poll was to get an answer to (1), but many people may have answered question (2). In the best case the actual poll question was simply poorly worded, in the worst case the ambiguous wording was used to deliberately pump up the yes answers. Perhaps a reporter could forward this to the Rasumssen folks to get their comment and post it here.
 
"Literal" seems to have two meanings, one which I would characterize as factual, i.e. without allegory or exaggeration. The other is one of emphasis, such as when someone says "I was so happy I was literally walking on air."

"Literal" has one meaning. Anyone who says he was "literally walking on air" is simply using the term incorrectly. That happens all the time... you could literally hear a pin drop...he literally raped the earth...I was literally blown away....

When people do this it's just plain wrong. The wording of the Bible question was fine.
 
the most important issue is Health Care. Was that left off intentionally or what?
 
Thanks for blogging on this poll, but we need to know the margin of error for this to be meaningful. Kind of basic politics...
 
The results of this poll clearly indicates tht Vermont is/has gone to hell.
 
Post a Comment



<< Home

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

June 2006   July 2006   August 2006   September 2006   October 2006   November 2006   December 2006   January 2007   February 2007   March 2007   April 2007   May 2007   June 2007   July 2007   August 2007   September 2007   October 2007   November 2007   December 2007   January 2008   February 2008   March 2008   April 2008   May 2008   June 2008   July 2008   August 2008   September 2008   October 2008   November 2008   December 2008   January 2009   February 2009   March 2009   April 2009   May 2009   June 2009   July 2009   August 2009   September 2009   October 2009   November 2009   December 2009   January 2010   February 2010   March 2010   April 2010