Proof That a Biased Survey Can Still Hint at Truth
November 11, 2004
6:57 a.m., MT
Yah, I did it again ... browsed a web site that I knew would get the rant daemons in my head all excited. Although I disliked going there, GovExec.com so regularly offers informative material, filtered through a govdrone perspective, that it was on my "daily" list when I was editor of Freedom News Daily. Today is the first day I've looked at it since quitting that job, and sure enough, there's plenty of stomach-churning material for freedom-minded individuals. If you've a sensitive stomach for this sort of thing, don't peek behind the "read on" link ....


What captured my attention was an older story about a survey asking "voters" their views of the federal government and its workers. Since it was undertaken by the Partnership for Public Service, I'm highly suspicious of the neutrality of the survey. In fact, looking at the article closely, if it does accurately reflect how the survey was conducted, it's a real mess (e.g., the respondents are referred to as voters, but the survey wasn't conducted by asking voters emerging from polls -- it was a telephone survey); also, by doing the survey on election day, the results are likely to be skewed to the positive side.

Anyway, on to the money quotes:

"The postelection buzz is about values and how they divide us, but one value that unites Americans is a belief in the potential of government as an instrument for good," said Max Stier, president of the Washington-based partnership. .... A majority of voters also said they believe that "improving the federal workforce" is vital "to winning the war on terror," according to the partnership release.

Again, there's good reason to be skeptical of the findings (including that the survey data released [DOC file] shows responses for only two questions). However, to the extent that the survey is touching on some truth, it reveals how tough the road ahead is for those of us working for greater liberty. For many people who have a lazy streak and who've been brought up in a welfare-state culture, returning to a political system that relies more on individual responsibility and less on gov largesse means they'd have to do more -- no way do they want that. For others, they believe they can responsibly take the reins over their own lives, but cannot accept giving a sex worker, or marijuana or opium user, his or her reins. Any benefits that such individuals might perceive in a truly free-market society get rapidly washed out by these (and other) concerns.

And I'll admit there's some good reason for that. Who among us hasn't been concerned at a friend's seemingly irresponsible choices? What parent hasn't faced a tough moment when a child seems poised to make a monumentally bad choice? The difference between pro-freedom individuals and collectivists is subtle, but hugely important: we successfully resist the urge, born of love and concern, to meddle, unasked, in another person's life. And if the person makes a bad choice, most of us don't walk away, clucking "I told you so," but instead offer support to our loved one.

It's such a small step, but as I've experienced firsthand over the course of my life, it can be an insurmountable chasm. Wish I could close with some wondrous Answer To It All, but such a thing doesn't exist.

My antidote for today is food: when I'm craving chocolate but don't want to eat any, I visit Chocosphere, which sells a huge variety of chocolates, from baking chocolates to tasty treats. I'm also going to be planning my Canning Extravaganza for this weekend -- deciding what items to make from the abundance of fall produce available here. Last year I made several items that were winners among the friends and family who received them, including apple-jalapeno jelly, apple-cinnamon jelly, chablis jelly, and cranberry-apple relish (divine on vanilla ice cream!). Will probably do some of these again plus some new items. Wanna buy some?

Sunni

Replies: 2 individuals have opined

On Thursday, November 11th, Sunni said:

Oooh, sounds like an excellent trade! I'll get my cookbook and be right on it in email.

On Thursday, November 11th, Pat T said:

"Wanna buy some?"

No, but I'd like to trade recipes: your Cranberry-Apple Relish for my Cranberry-Walnut Relish. Are you willing?