Who needs polls?

By Frank Newport:

President Bush mentioned the Gallup Poll while fund raising in New Jersey on Wednesday, saying "If we govern for what's right — not based upon the latest Gallup poll — we will continue to lead this country."

George W. Bush has been expressing these views on the nature of presidential decision-making in a representative democracy for many years. I address the debate on this issue in great detail in my book Polling Matters. The book’s subtitle is: “Why Leaders Must Listen to the Wisdom of the People”.

Since Gallup polls are nothing more than the scientific assessment of the views of the people of the nation, we can assume that President Bush is saying something like this: “If we govern for what’s right – not based upon the views of the American people – we will continue to lead this country.” The question of course: Who decides what’s “right” in a democracy if not the people?

I appreciate this quote from former President Theodore Roosevelt:

I believe the majority of the plain people of the United States will, day in and day out, make fewer mistakes in governing themselves than any smaller class or body of men, no matter what their training, will make in trying to govern them.

As George Gallup once said: “Political societies are most secure when deeply rooted in the political activity and interest of the mass of the people and least secure when social judgment is the prerogative of the chosen few.”

I can't see you. I can't see you. Hehehe.

That's it in a nutshell. Bush couldn't care less what the American people want or think. He decides what's "right".

Yeah sure. Color me extremely skeptical.

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