Common Sense vs Opinion Polls

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I don’t believe in polls because of how they are conducted and their incestuous relationship with headlines. Example. Headlines scream that some black people in Georgia, had Donald Trump signs last year, when his motorcade zoomed in for his mug shot. Polls take the cue and frame questions about Trump’s rising popularity with black voters, not some mind you, all.

First things first. Somewhere along the line we dropped ‘opinion’ from polls. They used to be called opinion polls because they are not fact. Why was Donald Trump in Georgia to have his mug shot taken? FACT. On 14 August 2023, the state of Georgia indicted him and 18 co-defendants for, “knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump.”

Black Voters

“Pay them no mind.” That’s what somebody will say about polls, but I find myself doing that now, because of constant polls that say Donald Trump might capture the black vote.

But why? I’m yet to see a poll question about why black voters in Georgia will vote for Trump. Fine. Maybe that is a bad example because America is a free country. Black people in that state vote both Democrat and Republican, despite voter suppression laws.

How about common sense? It is a pertinent question because of 6 January 2021. Black voters saw the insurrection, MAGA supporters fighting Capitol police and one word tinkled in their head, ‘if ……. If what? Fill in the blanks. Therefore, pollsters should not frame duvet questions about voting for Trump.

They should be precise, strip the bed. It’s not enough to have this duvet opinion that black voters will jump and vote Trump. They should be asked about 6 January 2021. Will you vote for Donald Trump because you support what he did to America on that date?

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Blogger Without Borders

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