Opinion polls
Sir: It is probable there will bea General Election this year, and once again editors and commentators will be bowing before the opinion polls. Cannot something be done to enforce their silence or at least to diminish their— authority? At present their findings are treated as though they are a Divine Revelation. They are infallible and unquestionable. We are told how we think collectively about the political parties, and I believe far too many uncritically ,accept their pontifications. X per cent support the Conservatives; Y per cent favour the Socialists; Z per cent don't know and Q per cent bloody well don't care, But how do these pollsters know? It is high time some publicity was given to their methods and to their conclusions. Too much holy mystery envelopes them. Anyone may quote them but none must question.
I think they can be mischievous because they can falsely lull into confidence and drive to despondency. Although their findings, which cannot be verified, relate only to public opinion at a certain time, I am sure many assure their findings to be a reliable forecast of the final issue. Perhaps polls are of value to students of political thought, but I cannot see what good they serve, Would you, sir, sponsor an opinion poll on opinion polls?
George E. J. Johnston 60 Park Road, Chiswick, London W4.
Previous page
