tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663236533679238071.post2918304505624178261..comments2017-01-30T11:57:56.541-08:00Comments on Health Care Polls: Washington Post/ABC News Poll Examines Government-Shutdown Aspect of Obamacare Implementationalanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08047057328265529252noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663236533679238071.post-80177488192002199572013-09-30T13:48:42.859-07:002013-09-30T13:48:42.859-07:00John makes some good points. My discussion of the ...John makes some good points. My discussion of the possible government services that could be shut down was awkward. First, there was the typo (since corrected) where I said "would could." <br /><br />More important, my phrasing may have created the impression that the Post/ABC poll gave respondents the specific examples of NIH medical studies, veterans' services, and passport issuance, as government programs that could be shut down. As John noted, respondents were left to interpret "major" activities for themselves, without the examples. My intent, by linking to a Washington Post article on possible services that could be curtailed, was just to give readers of my blog some examples of what "major" government activities might entail.alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08047057328265529252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663236533679238071.post-40296704283872146692013-09-30T13:36:03.540-07:002013-09-30T13:36:03.540-07:00The WaPo/ABC poll asks about shutting down "m...The WaPo/ABC poll asks about shutting down "major" activities of the government. The polled person gets to decide for herself what "major" means. This decision does not include by definition the NIH medical study example suggested by Mr. Reifman. It is important when reporting on polls, not to include one's own personal preferences in interpreting their results.<br /><br />Still, the Rasmussen poll asks about a "partial" shutdown of the government. This illustrates what we all know, that poll wording clearly affects the results that the poll would collect. Obviously, the polls themselves can be used to politically game the system and show illusory support for this or that policy.<br /><br />In another article, the point was made that poll numbers differ significantly when "ObamaCare" is mentioned, rather than the somewhat more accurate "Affordable Care Act" is used in a poll. Certainly, Congress names its legislation to tell stories too. Obviously, the legislation would never had been signed into law had it been deemed the "Unaffordable Care Act". <br /><br />Throughout the health care debate, the majority of American citizens have disapproved of what has also been called "health care reform". The polls are not being conducted to find out what we want; rather they are being deliberately used to shape opinion, and to give policymakers false impressions of what the American people want.<br /><br />The polls are, at heart, dishonest because they seek to shape opinion, rather than report it. <br />JohnFornaronoreply@blogger.com