Pranksters and Pollsters

Tuesday is supposedly a big day for the Republican presidential hopefuls as yet another round of primaries takes place. Don’t get me wrong...primaries, in and of themselves, are not a bad thing. After all, they allow for the winnowing of candidates as voters select their best choice from the field of wannabes.

But the media circus surrounding each primary and each participant is enough to turn even the staunchest political junkie to rehab. Speeches are parsed, venues are second-guessed, and (worst of all) polls are conducted so you and I have up to the minute information on who might be ahead. We have little control over the hordes of reporters that descend upon a given state approaching its primary, but we have complete control over the polling process. How? By choosing our answers.

A stranger comes up to you (or calls) and asks for your opinion regarding the upcoming primary’s issues, candidates, and what-have-you. And your answers are tossed in with everyone else’s to concoct a number that is fed to all listeners and viewers. Why do we answer this stranger honestly? Is it because this moment represents a portion of our 15 minutes of fame? Could it be the microphone? Who knows for sure and who cares? It just strikes me odd that many of us fib or stretch the truth or even flat-out lie in any given day (politicos call that spinning). We’re all so honest, though, with pollsters.

So, as we approach Super Tuesday (a week from tomorrow) let me offer suggestion: should any pollster ask you any question, fib...or stretch the truth...or flat-out lie! Think of the fun when the polls fail to accurately predict the winner. And the hilarity when important issues swing from the ridiculous to the sublime. We’ve lost nothing since the vote will be what it turns out to be and we’ve perhaps gained by watching to see if a candidate starts espousing views in line with “perceived” issues.

If the polls become untrustworthy, two things happen (and they’re both good): firstly, polls start to go away and, when they do, we are spared the incessant update of “numbers” along with a myriad of questions lobbed in our direction. Secondly, the electorate is forced to become more informed as we are denied viable front-runner predictions. Face it: many voters like to vote for the winner while thinking that any other choice wastes their vote. Nothing could be farther from the truth nor more destructive to our electoral process.

All of a sudden, watching the results is not only newsworthy, but entertaining as projected winners (based on exit polls) finish last while also-rans come out ahead. Think of it: voting results that reflect reality rather than conjecture. And we did it all by ourselves. If you want to see a new political dynamic this may be a great first step. And all we have to do is a little “spinning.