Polls Can Be Rigged Easily

Yesterday, I got a call out of our capital city, with a set of poll questions about my local city school district.  The bond they have in place expires this year, and a renewal is on the ballot, along with a second request for additional funding.  I am a proponent of public education and detest charter schools as mere capitalistic corporate leeches off the government teat, and huge drains on the public school funding and quality.  This poll appeared to be run by pro-public school advocate types.  But even so, this poll gave me grave concerns because it wasn't very professionally designed.

Leading questions.  So many leading questions.  The poll will have little value when it is released, unless it's intended to generate a list of likely suckers to tap for additional funding (and call in the future when they need a specific set of likely answers to their new polls).  Certainly no one will think it's unbiased.

Now with my half brain I can't remember specifically how the questions were worded, but they were NO-BRAINERS so that even dim bulbs such as me could shine.  I remember wanting to tell the earnest young man that I also believed that water was wet, just in case that was an upcoming question, just to save him some time.  But I was nice, and polite, and I never once answered with just a "yes" (you know, in case it was a scam to record my verbal assent, hahaha).

I declined one question.  After 'splaining how much I value public education, I didn't feel I could truthfully tell him I was a high school dropout and have my answers given any credence.  Sigh.  Although to be honest, being too poor to attend college is one of the biggest reasons I support the concept of a free public education these days.

Ah, nuts.  Hopefully that bond renewal passes.