The Poll Takers Worry About Their Future

 Recently Frank Luntz remarked to the effect that should the pollsters get the Presidential election wrong in 2020, as they did in 2016, they should get out of the business. A move few believe they can feel the shame to actually fulfill. Because, for the pollsters, it isn't about the results except that increased accuracy increases their earning power. Polls are about two things,  (1 the financial benefit of the pollster, and (2 influencing the weak-minded voter. *

And, neither reason furthers the American dream, or the democratic republic with which we adhere.

Pollsters can manipulate the result through the questions they ask and the population they survey. And they are known to do this in order to achieve a desired outcome, of the voter's choosing the pollster's preference. They are in essence soap commercials telling the voter which brand is better, and better because it is more popular. They are taking advantage of a human desire to be with the winner. Since most voters really don't know much about the policies that will come along with the various candidates or the effect of such policies, they go along with the crowd. Pollsters will sometimes effort to cast the ballot for the voter, figuratively speaking, by presenting a version of where the crowd is going without regard to whether that is the truth. Lemmings isn't just a lampoon.

The only poll that matters happens in the ballot box has been said many times before. And, if we are to remain, or some say become, a truly representative government such should be the case.

So, I for one, would not mourn the demise of the pollster occupation. Let them learn to code instead.

*(Published polls,that is.  Internal polls within a campaign can be instructive to candidate's policy choices and beneficial to the citizenry as a means of informing our potential representative of our desires. Though these too can be in error if the pollster isn't conscientious and do serve as a source of income for the pollster.)