This is why polls and the Media can be counter-productive to Democracy:

[bicentennial_baby]

I just saw this on the Clark Community Network, and it's very disheartening:

"I just got off making 150 calls to North Dakota. There is still strong Clark support, but people also expressed this:

"Did you hear Kerry is running up a large lead already over here"... "I heard the support is not strong"... "I want to vote for Clark, but I think it may not be enough".

Of course I said, "from what I am seeing the support seems to be strong among caucus goers. But if we believe what someone else is saying and not show up then we will have made that rumor come true".

This leads me to believe, maybe bad polls are being circulated to discourage Clark supporters from showing up. A couple hundred people could make a difference over here, and we have to fight both perception and rumor. Please share this with as many people you know -- is this happening elsewhere? Clark can win, if we don't allow people to become discouraged. I hope the campaign will ask people to forget polls -- they are all wrong -- and show up and express their support."

http://chat.forclark.com/story/2004/1/31/161027/837

[pacifictiger]

1. its part of the infotainment industry

to turn democracy into a game, urging people to bet on a "winner" just because he appears to be a winner. Reasons are mostly about generating money for the poll takers and promoters, little about serious democratic process, secret balloting, and discusson of real issues affecting people's lives. You can tell that from the way poll questions are often worded - simplistic yes/no option answers only. It's here to stay until people have enough spine and courage to think for themselves and cease to be so manipulated by what OTHER people think.

[quinnox]

2. I don't like polls being used so much

If I had my way, there would be no polls at all. Let people make their choices without being influenced by any poll numbers.

[Union Thug]

3. agreed

It's so obvious... the minute there is a perceived front runner, their is a large scale shift in support over multiple demographics. This is not democracy, it's follow the leader.

[Nay]

4. I so agree. Polls should be illegal.

It would keep the "jump on the bandwagon" factor to a minimum.

[BootinUp]

7. Baaaaaaa! the Sheeple say! n/t

[arcane1]

5. they are turning politics into a football game

"you wouldn't want to bet on the team we say is going to lose, would you?" I can almost hear them say

I'm glad the candidates have been giving the debate mods some hell for their improper question-framing, and distorting their positions, at least

[bicentennial_baby]

6. Kick

:kick: