Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Massive Poll On Societal Issues In The United States
The following pie charts were made from a CBS News / NY Times / YouGov Poll done between October 16th and 23rd of a random national sample of 94,411 registered voters, and has a margin of error of only 1/2 a point (0.5%). I found it interesting because of the huge survey sample and tiny margin of error -- and I present the results without further comment.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Are Debates In Off-Year Elections An Exercise In Futility ?
All of these charts were made from a recent YouGov Poll that was done on October 16th and 17th of a random national sample of 1,000 adults, and has a margin of error of about 3.8 points.
Looking at the charts above, note that 62% of Americans say candidate debates are important in helping them make up their minds about who to vote for. And about 68% of Americans watched the presidential debates in 2012.
Those are some pretty significant numbers, and could make someone think debates are a very important part of our electoral process -- and I think that would be correct in a presidential election. But this is an off-year election -- not a presidential election. Are debates as important in an off-year election?
The charts below would tend to show the answer is NO. Note that 68% of the public said they did not watch any candidate debates this year, and only 27% said they did watch (about one out of four people). And only 9% said it helped them to figure out who to vote for.
Frankly, I'm not even sure it affected 9% of the vote. In off-year candidate debates, I think most of the audience tune in to support a candidate they have already made up their minds to vote for -- and I doubt the statewide debates affect enough votes to matter.
Are off-year electoral debates an exercise in futility. I would have to say yes. A whole lot more people would need to watch to make them worthwhile.
Latest Polls On Texas Statewide Contests
This is probably the final poll before election day on the statewide races in Texas. It is the latest University of Texas / Texas Tribune Poll -- taken between October 10th and 19th of 866 likely Texas voters, and has a margin of error of about 3.6 points.
These numbers make it look pretty bad for Democrats. Texas Democrats knew it would be tough to elect some statewide candidates, but they thought (and I thought) the election would be a lot closer than this poll is showing. And it might well be closer.
Why do I say that? Because the hopes of Democrats rested with their statewide campaign to register new voters, and they were successful in registering hundreds of thousands of new voters. But this poll does not question registered voters -- just likely voters. That means they have tailored their counted responses to who they think will vote (i.e., a similar pattern of voting to the last couple of off-year elections in 2006 and 2010).
Are they correct in who they think will vote, or will a large number of new Democrats turn up at the polls. We won't know that until election day -- but I still think the election will be closer than this poll indicates.
Treat The Little Goblins With Union-Made Candy
Halloween, my favorite holiday (even if it isn't an official one), is fast approaching -- and you need to prepare to save yourself from the little goblins and witches by stocking up on treats with which to bribe them. And a good progressive, which I assume most of you are, will buy candy that was not only made in this country, but was made by union workers. And fortunately, the website Labor 411 has provided us with a list of good candy made by union workers. Here is their list:
5th Avenue
Abba-Zaba Original and Strawberry
Almond Roca
Baby Ruth
Big Hunk
Butterfinger
Cadbury
Jelly Belly Candy Corn
Candy House Buttons
Caramello Bar
Clark Bar
Disney Jelly Beans
Ghirardelli Chocolates
Gimbal’s Fine Candies
Harry Potter Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans
Hersheys Kisses and Hugs
Hersheys Nuggets
Hot Tamales candies
Jawbreakers
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
Kit Kat Bars
Laffy Taffy
LOOK!
Mallo Cups
Mary Jane
Mighty Malts Malted Milk Balls
Mike and Ike
Necco Candy Wafers
Nestle
Pearsons Candy
Red Vines Red Licorice and Black Licorice
Rocky Road Original, Dark, Mint, and S’Mores
Rolo
Russell Stover Candy
Sconza Candy
See
Sip-n-chew
Smarties
Smarties Candy Lipstick
Snaps
Sour Punch
Sunkist Candies
Super Ropes
Sweethearts Mummy Hearts
Thin Mints
Tootsie Rolls
Trolli
U-NO
Zagnut
Zours
Sunday, October 26, 2014
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