Reply #21: and .... the facts bounce off... [View All]

You could also post a link that demonstrates the difference between European Exit polls and US Exit Polls. Now that would be quite interesting. Oh. Wait, here's one.

http://www.mysterypollster.com/main/2004/12/what_about_thos.html

It's interesting. European exit polls use true random samples of respondents, not random precincts as done here in the US. A direct result of this is that European exit polls can be used to verify the actual count, whereas US exit polls cannot. US polls are still accurate, but they are only accurate when used as they are designed to be used. Europe wants to verify elections with their exit poll so their poll is designed to give them that information. Our poll is designed to provide the MSM with demographic information for later analysis. Since MSM pays for it, that's what they get.

George Lakoff wrote in his book, don’t think of an elephant!

We believe that "if we just tell people the facts, since people are basically rational beings, they’ll all reach the right conclusions. But we know from cognitive science that people do not think like that. People think in frames....To be accepted, the truth must fit people’s frames. If the facts do not fit a frame, the frame stays and the facts bounce off."

We aren't immune to this phenomenon just because we're progressive.

Finally, it seems that discussion of exit polls will be moot soon anyway. When the progressive media (Alternet.org, Tompaine.com) begins criticizing the exit poll hysteria, you know it's time to retire.

http://www.alternet.org/story/20934

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/election_2004_stolen_or_lost.php