This could be a very long blog, but I think I’ll just stick to a few of the major points:
Trump’s win tells us that:
-Polling results can be inaccurate – something I would hope we already knew by now;
-Mainstream media, which rely on their polls to “inform” us about the progress of the campaign, are relying on inaccurate information – again, something I would hope we already knew by now;
–Polls do not tell give us reliable information on voter participation. Almost every poll that asks how likely its respondents are to go to the polls shows a huge majority who “definitely” or “probably” will do so – far in excess of the actual percent casting their ballots. This tells us that respondents are perfectly capable of giving the “right” answer instead of the real one.
-Since respondents are capable of tailoring their answers to what they think they’re supposed to say, it stands to reason that if they are voting for a candidate most media have skewered throughout the election, they may not be honest about their intentions during an interview.
I have just listed four reasons. There are others as well – a bunch of them. But I think, or at any rate hope, that’s enough to make the point.
Please keep them in mind for 2018.
