New Political Poll Shows Just How Unreliable Polling Can Be

[Revmitchell]

A new survey from NBC News/Wall Street Journal is the perfect example of the utter worthlessness of public polling as it relates to the implementation of government policy.

In the poll, which covers numerous political topics, one question stands out: “Would you favor or oppose a single-payer health care system in which all Americans would get their health insurance from one government plan that is financed by Taxes?”

To this question, 47% said they “favored” such a system, 46% said they “opposed,” and 7% said they were “not sure.” However, when pollsters added a bit of specificity to the question, the results changed rather dramatically.

To those who said they favored a single-payer health care system, a follow-up question was asked: “And, if you learned that virtually all health care costs would be covered, but it would eliminate employer-provided health plans and there would be only one government plan, would you favor or oppose a single-payer health care system?”

This more specified question changed the results by more than ten points. The final results are as follows: 36% said they would “favor” a single-payer plan, 55% said they would “oppose,” and 9% were “not sure.”

New Political Poll Shows Just How Unreliable Polling Can Be

 

[InTheLight]

A new survey from NBC News/Wall Street Journal is the perfect example of the utter worthlessness of public polling

Post of the year.

 

[FollowTheWay]

A new survey from NBC News/Wall Street Journal is the perfect example of the utter worthlessness of public polling as it relates to the implementation of government policy.

In the poll, which covers numerous political topics, one question stands out: “Would you favor or oppose a single-payer health care system in which all Americans would get their health insurance from one government plan that is financed by Taxes?”

To this question, 47% said they “favored” such a system, 46% said they “opposed,” and 7% said they were “not sure.” However, when pollsters added a bit of specificity to the question, the results changed rather dramatically.

To those who said they favored a single-payer health care system, a follow-up question was asked: “And, if you learned that virtually all health care costs would be covered, but it would eliminate employer-provided health plans and there would be only one government plan, would you favor or oppose a single-payer health care system?”

This more specified question changed the results by more than ten points. The final results are as follows: 36% said they would “favor” a single-payer plan, 55% said they would “oppose,” and 9% were “not sure.”

New Political Poll Shows Just How Unreliable Polling Can Be

This is the bottom line in this article:
"This poll shows that unless the public is well-informed, polling them about complex issues is less than worthless."

It's a sad commentary about the state of American democracy today. Maybe we can no longer function as free people but must be told what to do by the rich elite. That's what Trump and the GOP is trying to do.

 

[Revmitchell]

That's what Trump and the GOP is trying to do.

Probably one of the dumber posts on this board. Certainly has no truth in it. Just DNC talking points.

 

[agedman]

Evangelist, Jim Lyons, preached a sermon on what to do if you missed the Rapture.

Yesterday, did I get left behind?

When my children were young, they thought I was old, now that they are old, what does that make me?

 

[FollowTheWay]

Probably one of the dumber posts on this board. Certainly has no truth in it. Just DNC talking points.

The first line is in the article YOU referenced.

 

[rsr]

From the article: "The debate over health care has been so glossy and shallow that many Americans don't actually know the gritty details."

Just like Congress and the president.

 

[Salty]

and I am sure, polosters are very careful as to how they ask question.

goes right back to the old "have you stopped beating your wife"

and nowadays - that could be a tougher answer if two women.... of forget it.

 

[HankD]

Polls of late have indeed been proven useless by the latest presidential primaries and general election including FOX news polls which at every bump in the road had President Trump losing up to the very night of the election.

Everyone was minimally surprised and in the max SHOCKED at the 304 to 227 Hillary loss.

HankD

 

[Salty]

Polls of late have indeed been proven useless by the latest presidential primaries and general election including FOX news polls which at every bump in the road had President Trump losing up to the very night of the election.

Everyone was minimally surprised and in the max SHOCKED at the 304 to 227 Hillary loss.

as far as election - one company does the polling - and the TV networks buy the info from the company -
then they can interrupt it any way they want to.

 

[rsr]

No, there are a multitude of companies that do the polling. That's why there are so many different results.