Importance Of Public Opinion

Dear Jerry,

I have no knowledge of the accuracy of polls. However, Comte considered forming and being aware of public opinion to be very important. To check what he said concerning public opinion go to the Library section on my web site and select "Social Science For A NON-FREE Society. Step 7 contains quotes on the importance of forming and knowing public opinion. Here is a quote from social technologist Lester Ward:

CREATING PUBLIC OPINION -- It is clearly in evidence that the science of creating and transmitting

public opinion under the influence of collective emotion is about to become the principal science of

civilization to the mastery of which all governments and all powerful interests will in the future address

themselves with every resource at their command.

The Science of Power, by Benjamin Kidd, G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1919. P. 131.

Hi, Erica:

I've always found polls difficult to accept. Nobody has ever explained, for instance, how in Canada, we have a population of some 30 odd million.

We're supposed to believe that it's possible to ask about 1000 people, nation-wide, a carefully worded question, and by that, it's possible to tell what the whole population is thinking on a given subject.

I find your premise in this article ("Everything Is Numbers") quite revealing.

So, my question is:

Do you believe pollsters are part of the numbers "cult"; for lack of a better term?

In my opinion, the connection is easy to form.

Your thoughts?

Jerry Pryde.

Stoney Creek Canada.

PS. You are one of the columnists I look forward to reading the most.

What Do You ThinK?

Are 'social sciences' really sciences?

Who needs them?

Do the people of the world need them?

Do the United States need them?

Why?

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