I'm not a big believer in polls either. However, I do find some worth in the results when a poll is duplicated by the same people. As in, polls are pretty lame as indicators when you're polling a few hundred people to represent millions. But, if you poll the same pool of people and those numbers change significantly, that (I think) can be an indicator of whatever movement is in that poll. For example, if you go to a senior community and everyone is all "Hillary is the heppest cat of them all!", but go back two months later and 80% of those people say "After hearing him, I changed my vote... I'd even let Sanders walk on my grass!"... well, that's a good indicator.
Even when they're not outdated they're still indications at most. I guess they have their use but overall people seem to regard them too much as fact or a sure thing. This while it all depends, as you pointed out with the landline example, how the poll is exactly conducted. Some statistics are more reliable or complete than others.
I like Bernie and his ideas but I think his way of doing things ...the 2 years of free college...expanding Obamacare to Medicaid for all....raising the minimum wage and overhauling the roads and infrastructure ...etc...could be a financial disaster- - -We already have a deficient that is wayyy out of control and I haven't heard him say that any of these things are going to be paid at the state and local level..he sez the fed will take care of it.. I don't know? First he has to get the south, and Midwest ,,never mind people of all colors and creeds.. He comes from a state that is 96% white.. Im wondering how people are going to relate to him when he,s out of his comfort zone of NewEngland Either way the next president will appoint 2 or 3 supreme court justices -- this kind of power cant be passed to the GOP- - Im going with Sanders if he is the nominee - Hillary if he isn't I think Bernie is trustworthy ,wise , forthright and could be tenacious . Does he have the cash and the backing to pass the Clinton machine? Maybe not, but Hillary only gets my vote when its all over for Bernie
I'm pretty sure the money to bankroll these expansions is going to come from increasing taxes on the upper 5% which should happen anyways. Whether it will happen or not with Repukelican control elsewhere is another story. I don't think Bernie would implement these things without the money to pay for them.
Welcome back, Jack. I'm for Bernie also. There is a series on the boob tube, hosted by Cheryl Atkissen(sp) that is an expose-type show. The governmental waste that goes on is ridiculous! Cut back on that, quit contracting, building (usually waaaay over budget) and providing weapons of war that the pentagon doesn't even want, insure that the LONG list of companies that not only don't pay any taxes---somehow they even GET MONEY from the gov---taxpayers. GE is top of the list I saw. THEN---we can have a single pay system ---along with reining in the drug cartels (the American ones) and generally attempting to cut medical costs across the board, enlisting many, many more GOOD students to become doctors and specialists. And tighten up the EPA, the Labor relations board and other agencies to preclude any disasters ( Flint,etc) and get the union busting stopped. Be nice for most everyone to have a strong middle class--again. Of course those that have continued to bust unions---those who have decided to send jobs overseas and those that generally believe that they deserve ALL THE MONEY----and believe that CITIZENS UNITED IS JUST FINE----Ok---you know to whom I refer----they need voted out.
I attended one of his rallies in North Carolina. I saw a lot of excited people there. Never mind the money; Trump has spent almost nothing.
Hi Karen- Good to hear folks in NC came out for Bernie Yeah- Trump is rolling without spending....but that knucklehead is very well known ,,from his reality shows,, his wife(s),,,,the towers and casinos that bear his name in lights.. . .to his outrageous comments that are the lead story on the 6 oclock news. He is a billionaire who has the dough when he needs it- - he just spent a whole lot on commercials in Iowa. Bernie swears he wont take superpac money-- his top 20 contributors are all unions with 100,000 grand from the teamsters-- Im guessing sooner or latter he,s going to need bigger chunks of cash then he can get from individuals who make modest donations - Im also guessing there is a plan in place for him as he gets closer in Nationwide polls.
Jeb Bush is burning through cash faster than anybody else, and it's getting him nowhere. These days, internet and cable news network exposure seem to be the most important things, and they cost the candidate little or nothing. Bernie has significant cash reserves.
Sanders was in the news this morning on MSN for his medicare-for-all proposal (I don't know if it's actually called a proposal). The columnist seemed to be skeptical as to whether or not Bernie's plans would ever come to fruition considering the current state of affairs in Congress. http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/sanders-health-plan-would-be-more-generous-than-medicare/ar-BBove4n Also MSN reports that Sanders has overtaken Clinton in the Iowa 51% to 43%. Good news to the people who support him. http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/poll-sanders-overtakes-clinton-in-iowa/ar-BBoxw9g?li=BBnb7Kz
You want to hear some BS? This is currently being reported on Iowa Public Radio as the two of them running "neck and neck" in a race that is "up for grabs" in our state. Later in the day, they reported the race as being "separated by only a few points" without even hinting at who is leading. The problem for me? When HC was in the lead by a point or two, IPR (as well as other media outlets) were still calling her the front-runner, presumptive nominee, etc.....even after she lost the lead in Iowa and NH. But now it's an 8 point lead for Bernie and we're all tied up, folks!! If this were election night and one candidate had an 8 point lead with 20% of precincts reporting.....the talking heads would be calling the state for that candidate.....not calling it a near tie. I called them at the end of the day and didn't get an answer. I will call back tomorrow and tell them that, as a sustaining member, I expect accuracy in their reporting. I listen to them every day and donate more than (presumably) the average Iowan. This pisses me off and I'm very close to ending my contributions if this misleading reporting isn't rectified very soon. I'll not pay for this shit.
^public radio has taken a downward turn in recent years. I listen to NPR every morning, it is kind of a weird ritual for me, but I haven't really bothered lately. The lack of coverage on world affairs, particularly the Syrian war, is what really started to bother me, but the election coverage has been really abysmal as well. There has been plenty of coverage, but mostly of the republicans and Hillary and none of it has really had any real sense of journalistic integrity. Sorry for the off topic post.
Yesterday morning CBS did a segment about Pacs calling for donations and then not using the funds for the issues they promised the donor their money was going to. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/political-action-committees-pacs-scam-donors-misled-conservative-strikeforce/
I talked to the news director at IPR today and I thought his explanation was acceptable and I think he welcomed my input on how what they are airing may be perceived. He said that...basically...they were looking at a number of different polls with different results (we didn't discuss methodology) which went in different directions. They chose to present it as the candidates are "just a few points apart" instead of choosing one poll or another and having to justify that. But I think he understood my point about terminology and presentation and said he was working to make sure things were presented apolitically......which is all I wanted to begin with.
First, the deficit isn't out of control. President Obama has done a lot to bring it down. He's cut it to about a 1/3 of where it was when he took office. As for his non-white support, all that really has to happen is for those communities to find out what Bernie has done, unwavering, throughout his entire career. And by understanding his past, knowing that a future with Bernie would hold the same... a bulldog fight for equality and decency, not to mention continuing to rebuild the American dream. As for how he would pay for his ideas...
If only 10% of those figures are true, that still means a net savings of $1.88 Trillion! Hell, even at just a measly 1%, it's still $188 billion! Sounds like a pretty safe bet to me.
