I've been one of those people that answer poll questions for quite some time and for some time, it is all you might expect it to be. Long lists of tedious questions. That is, up until about a month or two ago. That is, June or July of 2008 - a presidential election year.

              Like Fox News, Bill O'Reilly and some of my other nearly trusted sources, it's personality seemed to undergo a Jekyll and Hyde transformation. Fair and balanced, or at least closer than the others UNTIL the stakes are high. Then it becomes a game of mass manipulation of the American headspace.

               Why do I say this? Because the last poll I recieved had all normal questions except for one about McCain. I don't remember the exact wording but it was so odd that I read it out loud to someone to make sure I was hearing what I thought I was hearing. I was. It was a blatant and relatively poor attempt to extract a postive response regarding McCain from me.

                 Huh. Not all that surprising I suppose. What surprised me was that as soon as I answered the questions that revealed that I was firmly intending voting for Obama, I stopped getting polls from them.

                  Before, I had been getting a couple a week. Not smarmy, unscientific polls but the big boys, you know the ones. Oddly, I see that these very same polls continue to release regular results about how "people" are intending to vote. What am I? A gnome?

                   It sure explains a lot of the results we hear about that appear to defy logic as well as current scuttlebutt, eh?

                    You're busted boys. Flat-out busted.

  Take them with a grain,

   The Political Stray 

  Update:

          September 28, 2008

           I thought I'd add recent notations here. The polls I was speaking of above were Gallup, Zogby and Harris. I recieved one, I believe from Rasmussen. (sp?) Apparently, my initial responses eliminated me quickly from that one.

            The other day I signed on to one of my favorite websites, thewashington post.com and a pop-up screen asked if I would participate in a poll. I answered in the affirmative and the next couple of screens inquired about my professional field. I was intentionally vague and as soon as I confirmed that I wasn't in politics or the military, I was unceremoniously dumped. Thanks anyway.

             Today, CNN's Money magazine offered me a similar chance. As soon as I typed in my state and zip code, again I was told that they had enough from my area  and again I was dumped.

               I'm mildly amused by these "scientific" polls, particularly so close to the election and during this (snort) "bailout".

                 Apparently, my opinion is of little consequence to them. This is curious to me as I am a registered voter - an independent - and at the very least, one would consider me politically active.

               Who do you suppose these people really want to hear from?

                I have a sneaking suspicion, it's not Mr. and Mrs. "Mainstreet".

                 So, if you read poll results that make you wonder if a thinning ozone layer is allowing UV rays to fry the brains of your fellow Americans, at last you know why.

                  I believe, if I were to get real sampling from real people, the results would reveal what I've always known. You have to get up pretty early in the morning to pull the wool over the eyes of the American people.

                  I suspect that like me, they are fed up with what we are calling America's leadership ignoring them and making them a last priority. They are sick of politicians and unelected government employees giving away the house. Sick of unfair trade and corporations buying influence as they violate those responsible for their very existence. Sick of picking up the tab and holding the front line for corrupt governments and others in an anti-American world. Tired of United Nations corruption and middle eastern determination to continue centuries old battles while they ignore the fact that they are governed by forked-tongue tyrants and terrorists that care no more for their well being than they would a common insect's.

                   For the last few years, the people have been ignored by both our politicians and our media. It's as though we have become invisible. I suspect our politicians are about to be reminded why that is such a bad idea. As far as the media, if a decent news source, something on the order of the old BBC were to rear it's head, I suspect that it would rapidly steal the market from the tunnel visioned, echo chambered gossips that are entranced with what they see as their own powerful influence -- that we have today.

                    If there were ever a time for people truly dedicated to the public good to step up to the plate, it would be now. It would take time to break through the status quo, but it would be more possible now than it has been for a long time.

                   By the people -- For the people.

                   That has a lovely ring to it, doesn't it?

    Warmly,

     The Political Stray

Never surrender an inch to the bad guys. Not one.

The Political Stray