On MSN.com last week, the headline read, “Can Bush Still Win?”
Why would a supposedly non-biased media outlet ask that question? Assuming Bush is going to loose would admit favor for Al Gore’s campaign. And we all know the media is objective and fair. Therefore, bias is out of the question.
These headline writers and news editors must have an uncanny way of predicting the future. If so, Nostradamus himself would be put to shame.
In 1992 primaries, who would have predicted eight years of Bill Clinton? I sure wouldn’t have. I didn’t expect him to win again in 1996.
But the mainstream press predicted Clinton would win.
MODERN ORACLES
Thousands of people flock to these oracles every year, each asking who will win.
By turning on a television set, clicking on a webpage or opening a newspaper, modern oracles help undecided voters to shamelessly support the predicted winner, rather than embarrass themselves by rallying behind the predicted looser. (After all, who wants to vote for a looser?)
And, despite the dominion of science in this age of boundless information, there are very few who challenge these mystics who foretell the outcome of every presidential election.
There are several churches in every city. Yet we never hear of any bold evangelists standing-up to these modern soothsayers.
There are several organizations in our nation dedicated to ridding our airwaves of telephone psychic service advertisements.
In all fairness to Dionne Warwick and Kenny Kingston, anti-psychic activists ignored those media outlets who make similar, fantastic predictions of the presidential elections.
If nobody else will take on the false prophets of the mainstream press, I will!
THE SOURCE OF THEIR POWER
Just like the masked man on Fox last year who was exposing magicians secret’s, I will let you know how the media are able to make accurate predictions of which candidates will win.
Our mainstream press derives its future-telling abilities from the power of the public opinion poll.
First, by issuing several small polls (some interviewing less than 200 people via telephone in certain urban areas), they tell the American public what the American public thinks.
Next, the commentary phase begins. All kinds of “experts” speculate on what these numbers mean. Sunday mornings are chock-full of television programs dedicated to discussion of the reasons for the results of these polls. After enough exposure, the American public may now begin to make what is known as an “informed decision.”
Then, the other polls begin. These are more serious polls, including more respondents and a wide-range of questions. By careful wording, they are able to get answers from the public very similar to the results of the previous, smaller polls. By now, the public is convinced that the majority of Americans will vote for a certain candidate. Still, 260 million US citizens have yet to be accounted for.
The trick here isn’t to “convert” Republicans into Democrats (or vice-versa). It is to convince the “swing voters” (the majority of voters who are “independent” and do not claim a party) to go with the flow.
Hardline campaign news series then follow. Many of these claim to be unbiased and objective, but ultimately pose a threat to one of the two major presidential contenders. Headlines will read, “Can Bush Still Win?” or “Senator Dole Alienates Women Voters” to name a few recent examples.
Shortly before the election, the swing voters have made their decision. They do not want to vote for a radical who will go against what America reportedly “wants.” They will vote for the predicted winning candidate.
Believing this country to be a direct democracy, the swing voters cast their votes for the candidate whom they feel “best represents the public” in November. Remember, the definition of who “best represents the public” is predetermined by the opinion polls.
And there you have it! It the media have predicted the outcome of an election.
Do attempt this trick at home. You’ll get accused of manipulating your loved ones.
IGNORE THE POLLS
I implore all those who are reading this column to ignore the polls! Vote your conscience. Do not let public opinion govern your opinion. Regardless of for whom you vote, even if a third-party candidate, vote for the one who represents your beliefs and supports your way of life.
I hope the student body will stand by what they believe, carefully research their positions and vote for a candidate by what he stands for-- Not by what the mainstream press merely says he stands for.
Public opinion should have no place in determining how you should vote this November.