On COINING of POLLOCRACY in 1990
December 25, 2010
On this Christmas day, I have decided to retype word for word the letter to the Editor of the ANN ARBOR NEWS which was published on May 4, 1990.
That is over 20 years ago.
The Title for the letter was chosen by the Editor................Had it been for me , I would NOT have used AMERICAN.
SO, here it is ...........word for word
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WE SHOULD just say NO to American POLLOCRACY
While we are trying to Export Democracy all over the world, it may be wise to take a close look at the state of our won.
In August '88, I decided to step into the shoes left y Alexis de Tocqueville and give our Democracy a thorough physical check-up.
Times were auspicious. The Presidential Election was enlightening everyone. By Nov 8, 1988 , it had become crystal clear to everyone that the Polls had been made into a " KINGMAKER" by the Media. This was usurpation of our voting rights.
Left with all the materials to study, and after nine months of brainstorming , I became aware that this Political Phenomenon was actually BEGGING me to name it .
Indeed, a word was needed capable of capturing all its malignant potency. So, I finally concocted one.
I have named the Political Phenomenon that had people so uneasy and angry during '88 Election " POLLOCRACY "
Pollocracy is defined as the DICTATORSHIP of the POLLs.
The Point is that Pollocracy is here to stay, unless we do something about it.
What can we do ? How can we regain our Political Privacy and influence ?
November elections are ahead of us . So let us start a war agianst Pollocracy. Here is a suggestion : To all political Questions asked by the Polls, let us JUST SAY NO.
To save Democracy, we must say NO to Political Pollocracy.
signed by M D
ANN Arbor MI
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Letter was published on MAY 4,1990 in the Ann Arbor News
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
in Nov 1988 I had seen another letter to the Editor expressing concern about the POLLS effect on Electorate.
IT was Titled " USE OF POLLS THREATENS VOTING RIGHTS "
it was signed by Cathy SWANSON Ann Arbor,MI
Here is the first paragraph:
A.M Rosenthal's column , " HAS PRESS played to polls too much ?" ( NEWS, Oct 26) carried a powerful message for Americans . The Columnist is CHALLENGING journalists to exercise SOME ETHICAL JUDGEMENT in reporting the election Polls.
The Media's exaggerated use of these polls represents a SUBTLE threat to our voting rights. WHY bother to acquaint yourself thoroughly with the issues in the race for the President , or to vote for the UNDERDOG if the Polls have made the elections a FOREGONE conclusion ?
On October 25 , in a 90 minute interview with Michael Dukakis , Ted Koppel badgered the candidate for his optimistic forecast in the face of A 13 -point disadvantage 2 weeks before the election. The Implied message Ted gave was that Polls don't Lie --the election results are in .
Americans should express their indignation at this kind of reporting . Everyone should consider his/her vote important.
Last minute decisions should be honored. We need to continue to inform ourselves on the issues --at every level of Government--right up to the election day. We need to BEWARE of TV and newspaper journalists' tendency to cater to the Polls and inadvertantly make them more POWERFUL than they should be.
by Cathy Swanson
Ann Arbor MI
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SO................although i meant to copy only the first paragraph of this letter, I found it so IMPORANT that I kept writing till it was finished.
SO, when JOE Scarborough in the morning brings up the POLLS , he is really catering to the POLLS and making them more POWERFUL.
and believe me he is not the only one ................all of them do . Some with more honestly than others.
My fellow Citizens let us BE AWARE and BEWARE of Polls.
Next time they call me, I will say :Sorry, I HAVE NOT DECIDED YET !!!......
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< the END
On this Christmas day, I have decided to retype word for word the letter to the Editor of the ANN ARBOR NEWS which was published on May 4, 1990.
That is over 20 years ago.
The Title for the letter was chosen by the Editor................Had it been for me , I would NOT have used AMERICAN.
SO, here it is ...........word for word
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WE SHOULD just say NO to American POLLOCRACY
While we are trying to Export Democracy all over the world, it may be wise to take a close look at the state of our won.
In August '88, I decided to step into the shoes left y Alexis de Tocqueville and give our Democracy a thorough physical check-up.
Times were auspicious. The Presidential Election was enlightening everyone. By Nov 8, 1988 , it had become crystal clear to everyone that the Polls had been made into a " KINGMAKER" by the Media. This was usurpation of our voting rights.
Left with all the materials to study, and after nine months of brainstorming , I became aware that this Political Phenomenon was actually BEGGING me to name it .
Indeed, a word was needed capable of capturing all its malignant potency. So, I finally concocted one.
I have named the Political Phenomenon that had people so uneasy and angry during '88 Election " POLLOCRACY "
Pollocracy is defined as the DICTATORSHIP of the POLLs.
The Point is that Pollocracy is here to stay, unless we do something about it.
What can we do ? How can we regain our Political Privacy and influence ?
November elections are ahead of us . So let us start a war agianst Pollocracy. Here is a suggestion : To all political Questions asked by the Polls, let us JUST SAY NO.
To save Democracy, we must say NO to Political Pollocracy.
signed by M D
ANN Arbor MI
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Letter was published on MAY 4,1990 in the Ann Arbor News
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
in Nov 1988 I had seen another letter to the Editor expressing concern about the POLLS effect on Electorate.
IT was Titled " USE OF POLLS THREATENS VOTING RIGHTS "
it was signed by Cathy SWANSON Ann Arbor,MI
Here is the first paragraph:
A.M Rosenthal's column , " HAS PRESS played to polls too much ?" ( NEWS, Oct 26) carried a powerful message for Americans . The Columnist is CHALLENGING journalists to exercise SOME ETHICAL JUDGEMENT in reporting the election Polls.
The Media's exaggerated use of these polls represents a SUBTLE threat to our voting rights. WHY bother to acquaint yourself thoroughly with the issues in the race for the President , or to vote for the UNDERDOG if the Polls have made the elections a FOREGONE conclusion ?
On October 25 , in a 90 minute interview with Michael Dukakis , Ted Koppel badgered the candidate for his optimistic forecast in the face of A 13 -point disadvantage 2 weeks before the election. The Implied message Ted gave was that Polls don't Lie --the election results are in .
Americans should express their indignation at this kind of reporting . Everyone should consider his/her vote important.
Last minute decisions should be honored. We need to continue to inform ourselves on the issues --at every level of Government--right up to the election day. We need to BEWARE of TV and newspaper journalists' tendency to cater to the Polls and inadvertantly make them more POWERFUL than they should be.
by Cathy Swanson
Ann Arbor MI
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SO................although i meant to copy only the first paragraph of this letter, I found it so IMPORANT that I kept writing till it was finished.
SO, when JOE Scarborough in the morning brings up the POLLS , he is really catering to the POLLS and making them more POWERFUL.
and believe me he is not the only one ................all of them do . Some with more honestly than others.
My fellow Citizens let us BE AWARE and BEWARE of Polls.
Next time they call me, I will say :Sorry, I HAVE NOT DECIDED YET !!!......
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< the END
posted by malee at 6:00 PM
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