Wednesday, July 20, 2011

80% OF AMERICANS ARE ‘SOLD’ CLAIM IS SKEWED


Last week, Obama made the bold assertion that 80 percent of Americans support a resolution that includes a mix of budget cuts and tax increases. This seems to be terribly generous number considering that the president's request is based purely on a survey. One might suppose that he took the margin of error for the survey in mind before speaking. But this may be hoping too much.

Sure, there are many polls that suggest, as Obama said that Americans are open to compromise, which requires higher taxes as part of the solution. However, on August 10 claimed that American support is questionable (to put it mildly).

"You have 80 percent of Americans support a balanced approach. Eighty percent of Americans support an approach that includes income and includes reductions. Therefore, the notion that the American people is not sold the problem, "the president said last week.

The Gallup poll, the White House has used as the main basis of this statement surprising tells a different story. According to the original study, funded 69 percent to solve the deficit with a mix of cuts and tax increases. An additional 4 percent favored tax increases only 4 percent is not a part of Barack Obama "balanced" position, but one could safely assume that they are in the pocket. It supports up to 73 percent in this survey.

However, the number 73 only matters if accepted blindly. It would be foolish to do so. The surveys are not definitive by any means and give a rough idea. In fact, there are several problems that must be considered before accepting the results of any survey. For example, there may be a problem with the design of the sample (for telephone surveys, how the numbers were selected and how individuals are selected into the house) are not available, the problem of rejection (rejection rate in one particular variable is measured?), question wording for the question, conscious or unconscious, lying, and false reporting by respondents, or insufficient data or inadequate weight.




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