Why You Can't Trust Polls

 

AP poll question: "As you may know, in the next few months the U.S. government must raise the federal debt limit in order to avoid defaulting on its debt. If the federal debt limit is not raised and the U.S. defaults on its debt, how likely is it that the U.S. would face a major economic crisis?"

 

Next AP poll question: "In general, do you support, oppose or neither support nor oppose raising the federal debt limit in order to avoid defaulting on U.S. goverment debts?"

 

Do you see the problem with those questions? The first is based on a false premise. We don't have to raise the debt ceiling to avoid default -- we can reprioritize spending so that the interest payments on the debt are paid, then do some major rethinking about all the government handouts and waste. The second question follows the same logic as the first -- giving the poll participant a false choice. It's not raise the debt limit or default. It's raise the debt limit, default, OR make some major changes in spending. I'm quite certain that had the very real possibility of reprioritizing and getting a handle on spending been offered as an alternative, many would have chosen it.

 

"Public torn on debt ceiling." The Dallas Morning News; January 18, 2013; p. 11A.