Polling the Public on Presidential Performance

According to The Olympian, in February 2005, USA Today reported that 64 percent of high school graduates go to college, but the number of Americans with bachelor degrees is only 29 percent. So what happens to that other 35 percent between the time they go and four years later?

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 26% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Thirty-six percent (36%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -10.

SO... the President's approval rating is -3 (29% with degrees, 26% positive), then considering some of those being polled have no degree, it's probably better. Considering some of those who have a degree are idiots anyway and regardless (or irregardless as some of them would say), well, I guess we really don't know what people think or who should be thinking what; or, if polls really matter much.

But the question has always been, how much should we pay attention to polls? Think, when you were a kid, your parents made you do what was best for you, you didn't always agree with it, you didn't always understand all of it, you didn't always have all the information nor could you understand some of it; but they were there to protect you, care for you, make you do what is right. It is somewhat the same with the President. However, we did vote him in, so he is or should be, more responsive to us more than our parents were.

However, there will always be times when he gets caught between wanting you to understand, knowing you never will, and having to do what you don't want, unless you know all the facts. This is something I taught my kids is a part of life. You do what is right and sometimes, you will get in trouble for it, no one will ever know the truth, or believe it, but you will always know you did what was right.

Once in second grade, I stood up to three bullies in fifth grade, who were picking on a first grader. I got beat up after school, drug through a filled drainage ditch. My mom drove up looking for me and turned the kids in. Three of them told the Principle I stated it on the playground. I did, I told them stop picking on the little kid. The little kid was terrified and wouldn't tell the truth. I understood that. I was good with it. But in the end, the kids got away with it, I got a set of swats from the Principle and that was that.

As for polling, if I poll a group who thinks I should supply better crack to the neighborhood, perhaps I'm polling the wrong people, or asking the wrong question, or they are just idiots.

We do have to consider a few things in polling. How much correct information do those polled have? How good of a critical thinker are those people? Do we really care what they think if they are just stupid, ignorant or have a ridiculous way of looking at life? What negative viral Memes have infected their minds prior to polling? How much should it matter if the President does something unpopular but is best for the people, in the long run, or for the better good of the US, or the better good of Humanity.

Sometimes, Life's just... complex. For some of us, more than for others.

Chill. Peace.