Tuesday, November 11, 2008

You Get What You Pay For...

....at least when "Survey Says!!" is the result you want.

Over the weekend, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority released the findings of an $8,500 survey that showed, in the words of an RTA news release, "startling results on transit."

The "startling results" were majority support in Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties for expanding public transit and for funding it through a sales tax -- which, coincidentally, are also the positions of a majority of the RTA's board.

In this case, even the JS reporter was startled. So he dug a bit.

...the results look even less startling after reading the questions, which included

"Some people have suggested expanding public transit in Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties. If you knew that transit was seen as a top priority for the economic future of our region by top business and economic development leaders, would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose expanding public transit in this region?" (78% voiced some degree of support.)

Hmmmmmnnnn.

"If you could get some other damn fool to pay for it, would you prefer a trip to Hawaii, the Cote de Azur, or Aruba?"

Well, there's $8500.00 down the drain.

1 comment:

Shoebox said...

Are you suggesting that there is a poll anywhere in the media that isn't there to direct thought on the topic of the article it's attached to?

Polls may have been "information" at one time but now they are nothing more than "statistics" and like them, are mangeled to represent what the author wants them to be...often due to their own ignorance.