- Is American news media too dependent upon polls? Is it appropriate for news agencies to create polls and then report on them? Why or why not?
The news media does tend to do a lot of polls and I feel they are too dependent upon them. It is such a small sampling that it is hard to determine the actual overall attitudes of the entire population. It seems like there is a poll for everything and I think that reporting them constantly is a waste of time. I would also be somewhat offended if I were to be asked coming out of voting both by an exit poll, what my opinion is. I believe that politics is in individual choice and the intrusion into that opinion somewhat offends me.
- How important is political party identification to you (e.g. as a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, etc.)? Was it more or less important to your parents & grandparents? Does it seem more or less important to your friends? Why or why not?
I do not feel that political party identification is very important to me at all. I believe that regardless of the political party, we should elect the best person for the job. I do not believe that my parents cared about political party identification either but my grandparents did very much so. I think as generations have evolved, there has been less emphasis on political parties in my family because we all want what’s best regardless of party. My friends and I however, do not discuss politics and it is hard for me to say how they feel about political party identification.
- Do you feel that your opinion of politics is more influenced by economic issues or by social issues? Why?
At this point, I feel that my opinion of politics is more influenced by social issues. I think that is because I am very young and have not had to experience or be concerned about economic issues. As I continue to grow and learn more I think that will change to more concern regarding economic issues. It’s easy for me to not worry about the economy so much at this age but when I am on my own and have to worry about these things, they will become more prominent for me in my thought regarding politics. At least this class has made me more aware of many of the issues that I will be faced with as a young adult.
I have posted to Pam Smith, Robert Cook and Stephanie Griffin
I'm not offended by polls and think that getting a "feel" for the opinions of our nation help determine the course of actions many leaders take. However, I do agree that there are too many polls and they are often used incorrectly, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree that our news media focus too heavily on polls and not enough on true issues at hand, I do not think that polls are all bad though because they do give us as citizens a feel for where the rest of the nation stands on certain issues. And I agree with you, my opinion of politics is also heavily influenced by social issues.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your opinion on all three topics. I feel as though the polls used by the news media are often created to create a basis and persaude the public to side one way or the other.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, the news has a poll for everything these days and I do believe they time these polls to know what section of the public they will reach during those hours and then report only the results that favor their own opinions.
ReplyDeleteI agree that they focus more on polls and not on the current issues that is really going on. Polls seem to make people choose one side of the other when they are dont know they whole problem.
ReplyDeleteIf more elected officials got their jobs based on qualification instead of political issues, America would be in a better place. I also agree with your point that how one votes is a personal choice.
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