The polling industry doesn’t measure public opinion – it produces it | Richard Seymour

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There is something authoritative and reassuring about a round number. But we shouldn’t pretend that a percentage can meaningfully represent the views of the public, says political activist and author Richard Seymour

The polls keep coming, one after another. But the polls are all over the place. For example, they can’t agree on where the competing parties stand. One gives the Tories a 10-point lead, another gives Labour a 2% lead. Polling has never been an exact science, but political volatility, the growth of new polling firms and the extraordinary ubiquity of conflicting polls, has put it under new strains and new scrutiny.

 

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its only a matter of time before these companies wont be able to do any polling because citizens are getting wise to it and lie to them when they ask questions the companies data will be worthless.

It was polling data that allowed tories, press and BBCNews attack UKLabour 2015 election coalition with theSNP .

Voter id cards are needed

D’uh. But only in the ri... correct hands.

So Labour are gonna tank and your getting your excuses in early? Gotcha. BTW How’s that burger that nearly killed you?

'polling industry'?

This is dumb

Ya don't say?

Yes.

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