elf@utcsrgv.UUCP (Eugene Fiume) (10/04/84)
I hope it's obvious to everyone that the recent calls for the return of the death penalty is almost totally the result of a media blitz. Just as the the incredible number of polls prior to the election shaped public opinion, instead of the other way around, the irrational over-reaction by police and others to the obvious death-wishes of a few nutcases has been sickeningly exploited by the media. The behaviour of our news media is a wonderful argument against referenda. BTW, what is the libertarian view on the death penalty? Eugene Fiume U of Toronto
perelgut@utai.UUCP (Stephen Perelgut) (10/04/84)
> Eugene Fiume >I hope it's obvious to everyone that the recent calls for the return of the >death penalty is almost totally the result of a media blitz. Just as the >the incredible number of polls prior to the election shaped public opinion, >instead of the other way around,... Are you suggesting that the media is making up poll results and influencing public opinion, or are you suggesting that the media should not report polls since they might tend to influence the undecided portion of the populace into taking a stand. My vote was not changed by the media blitz, and that holds for most intelligent people. Should we have gullability tests before allowing people to vote.
thompso@utecfc.UUCP (Mark Thompson) (10/04/84)
Eugene Fiume writes: >I hope it's obvious to everyone that the recent calls for the return of the >death penalty is almost totally the result of a media blitz. Just as the >the incredible number of polls prior to the election shaped public opinion, >instead of the other way around, the irrational over-reaction by police and >others to the obvious death-wishes of a few nutcases has been sickeningly >exploited by the media. The behaviour of our news media is a wonderful >argument against referenda. What utter garbage! Calls for the return of capital punishment have been heard ever since the spineless ones in Ottawa got rid of it. All the media is doing is reporting on public opinion that is being voiced even more vocally due to the recent rash of police slayings. How would you feel if you were a policeman Eugene? It has been shown that polls have little effect on public opinion. They merely happen to report on what that opinion is at the time. You would find that those supporting capital punishment are a consistent majority. Sounds like you are sore about the landslide conservative victory the way you are beefing about opinion polls but remember that they were merely reporting what was evident - people were REALLY sick of the gang who had been in Ottawa the last two decades. The media has little to do with a referendum other than informing people on current events. A referendum would be a true measure of what people want. Sounds like you're scared that the pro capital punishment side would easily win!!!!!! Mark Thompson UTME
mack@ubc-vision.CDN (Alan Mackworth) (10/05/84)
From: perelgut@utai.UUCP (Stephen Perelgut) ........................ Should we have gullability tests before allowing people to vote? No, I vote for spelling tests.
mack@ubc-vision.CDN (Alan Mackworth) (10/05/84)
On the other hand, maybe "gullability" could be tested by throwing people in the air and seeing if they can fly.
elf@utcsrgv.UUCP (Eugene Fiume) (10/05/84)
It cheers me to know that my psychological health is of sufficient concern to Mark Thompson to warrant a thorough psychoanalysis. Lookit, even politicians talk about a "bandwagon" effect. They certainly believe that people jump on the bandwagon which is perceived to have the greatest public support. For once, I find myself agreeing with politicians. I think polls (and one-sided media coverage) have the same effect. That is, it's not a question of whether polls etc. shape public opinion, but how much. Stephen suggests that "intelligent" people are not affected by such things. That's possible, but irrelevent: "intelligent" people are in the minority and are not likely to figure in the result of any election/referendum. I'm not sure people are rational in their voting behaviour anyway, even "intelligent" people. Was the outcome of the referendum in Quebec based on rational choice? In my first article, I did not state how I feel about capital punishment, though you psychoanalysts out there may have cleverly figured things out. I just observed that if there were a referendum, the public decision would be based on hyperbole and sensationalism. Mark asks how I would feel if I were a policeman. I'd feel fine, unless some nutcase wastes me, and then I wouldn't feel fine. Eugene Fiume U of Toronto