Polls are a monument to American stupidity

[BeyondGeography]

I know it's fashionable to minimize the polls in this forum, especially those that are packed with discouraging information. But, for me, the verdict is increasingly clear: the inability of many Americans to think clearly for themselves is worse than ever.

In today's NYT poll, for instance, "Sixty percent of respondents said they did not have confidence in Mr. Kerry to deal wisely with an international crisis; that is a jump from 52 percent in June. By contrast, 48 percent said they were uneasy with Mr. Bush's ability to manage a foreign crisis."

This type of result has been fairly consistent in all the polls. Bush continues to outpoll Kerry as the candidate who is most likely to lead an effective war on terror, keep us safer, do a better job in Iraq, etc.

We can blame the media and rant about the polls, but the fact is this is still an open society and there are literally mountains of evidence, published daily in the papers and in book after well-publicized book (some of them written by REPUBLICANS), that Bush and his neocon cabal misled us into Iraq and that the situation there is a disaster. The outside world is openly rooting for Kerry, not because they think he will be a cupcake, but because they fear the consequences of four more years of a unilaterist and materialist (war complex and oil bucks) foreign policy.

Bush IS a foreign crisis. What more evidence does the public need?

Americans are fundamentally unable to connect the dots. Two-thirds will tell you they approve the repeal of the estate tax. Two-thirds will also tell you that the gap between rich and poor is increasing and that this is a bad thing.

I wish Kerry were a stronger candidate, but my heart does go out to him. He is up against a corporate, front-running media, but the bigger problem is the electorate itself. An uninformed and unthinking populace gets the politics and the President they deserve.

[are_we_united_yet]

1. Sigh

I wish I could disagree with you. But I can't.

[TomClash]

2. Wait until election day before you call Americans stupid . . .

. . . and then, if Bush is elected, I'll probably join you.

[are_we_united_yet]

4. I don't think

he's implying all Americans are not using their brains. But clearly a large number of them can't perform much more analysis past bumper stickers and sound bites.

Bush is bad for Republicans and Democrats but many Republicans don't realize it (yet).

[unfrigginreal]

3. But this shouldn't come as a surprise

Part of the problem may be with an uninformed and unthinking populace but that's nothing new. A bigger problem is that we think those folks can be swayed to vote for our Party by suggesting intellectual superiority. For the most part, they are more interested in someone that they feel they can relate to.

[are_we_united_yet]

5. I really do think

the polls (which I don't put any faith in) are being manipulated.

[katmondoo]

6. Well said!

Why is it that everyone(or at least those who speak of this division)always seem to defer to their Republican family members. It seems they all are intimidated by them, what for? I read how they are surrounded and beat down for having a Democratic view. Even when they stand up they do so at their own peril. I am in the same predicament. I was so mad after the last family gathering that I have vowed not to attend another one. My nephew and his wife had to whisper to me that they are for Kerry.
Right now I feel they can all go to hell, they deserve what they will get if Bush is in for another 4 years. I am sick of them all. It won't matter anyway whether or not I see or speak to these people, I doubt they care either. I consider anyone who votes for Bush a traitor to America. I have never felt this way before as I do believe in a two party system.
My son is one of them, I include him on my list too. He calls me Mommy the Commie, suppose to be a joke. I do not want to joke anymore. This tirade ends. Thanks for letting me vent.