LETTERS: POLLS HAVE TAKEN AMERICA BY STORM

To the editor:

Lock the doors. Close the blinds. Head for shelter. We are about to be bombarded with polls galore. The bombardment could possibly be more devastating than our recent attack on Iraq. The one bright spot: At least it should not cost the taxpayers $375 million to $400 million for the hit-and-run facade. But a warning: It will last more than four days.

Polls have taken America by storm. It seems every issue, important or not, is greeted by a poll. Our mainstream media reporting the news, or biased views as it sometimes sounds, try to make us believe we cannot live or die unless we first take a poll. This brings to mind the following questions.

Who commissioned the poll? Why was the poll necessary? What was the purpose of the poll? When was it taken, morning, noon, afternoon or evening? Where was the poll taken, east, west, middle America? How many people were actually called before the poll was completed? How many answers were discarded before the desired results were obtained? The framing of the poll's questions will greatly affect the outcome. Also, there could be a question as to the reliability and knowledge of the person being polled. The latter brings to mind the following.

Several years ago the Missourian printed a Speak Out comment about the Whitewater affair. The gist of the comment was that it was fine to write about Whitewater, but the caller felt that Zalma, Marble Hill and other communities should receive the same attention. Needless to say, each time I read or hear of a poll, I quake at the thought that maybe, just maybe, that caller was included in the poll.

W.E. (BILL) ENGEL

Jackson