isen.blog

My Representative in Washington, Christopher Shays (R-CT), sent me a questionnaire. I tried to fill it in (my duty as a Citizen) but I messed it up so badly that I threw it away. I wanted to reword questions like, "The government spends too much/the right amount/too little." And I wanted to add missing multiple-choice alternatives like, "E. It depends on what you call 'terrorism'."

I just got the results, summarizing 24,551 replies. The document is clearly labeled, "not a scientific sample." But hey, data's data.

Almost 80% of the "voluntary and self-selecting" respondents, "believe we must fight a War on Terrorism at home and abroad." But war and terrorism did not top their list. They thought "Economic Growth/Jobs" was the most important issue before Congress. And the second most important issue before Congress was "Economic Growth/Jobs." The third most important issue before Congress was "Economic Growth/Jobs." "Budget Deficits" was second, second and third. Terrorism was third, third and fourth.

There were even more surprises among the "voluntary and self-selecting," most notably:

• 91% agreed that "Any national energy policy should include incentives to decrease consumption and increase the use of renewable energy sources." Clearly personal virtue is but a beginning.
  
• 83% agreed that "The federal government needs to do more to protect our environment."
  

I betcha these "voluntary and self-selecting" respondents also volunteer and self-select to vote.

How many others threw out their questionnaires in frustration like I did?