The Haas Jr. Foundation hired NYU political scientist Patrick J. Egan to study 167 polls in the 33 states that had a gay marriage ban from 1998-2009 – and compared it with the results on Election Day. And as we already knew – having painfully experienced this in state after state – the results after votes are counted are worse than what polls had said. Moreover, as Dr. Egan reported, poll results throughout the campaign were mostly static. Did people lie? Yes and no. Egan’s analysis showed that polls accurately predicted the pro-equality vote – i.e., people who voted “no” on Prop 8 – but that they undercounted people who voted to ban gay marriage. So if a pre-election poll would show us winning a plurality of 48-45 (which campaigns find encouraging), it would mean that we lost 52-48.
The Haas Jr. Foundation hired NYU political scientist Patrick J. Egan to study 167 polls in the 33 states that had a gay marriage ban from 1998-2009 – and compared it with the results on Election Day. And as we already knew – having painfully experienced this in state after state – the results after votes are counted are worse than what polls had said. Moreover, as Dr. Egan reported, poll results throughout the campaign were mostly static.
Did people lie? Yes and no. Egan’s analysis showed that polls accurately predicted the pro-equality vote – i.e., people who voted “no” on Prop 8 – but that they undercounted people who voted to ban gay marriage. So if a pre-election poll would show us winning a plurality of 48-45 (which campaigns find encouraging), it would mean that we lost 52-48.
Unlike a traditional Bradley Effect, in which voters say they'll vote for the black candidate, then vote against it, in this case, a chunk of haters simply were too embarrassed to say they were haters, and claimed they were undecided.
Citizens and journalists can now use the application to search for bill information, event calendars, blogs of individual Senators, watch archived video of Senate sessions, or reach their Senator. Using the built-in GPS device, users can also find which Senator represents where they are standing at any moment. “Good government, is open government. Just two years ago, New Yorkers were locked out of the legislative process,” said Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson. “The former Majority required a $2,500 subscription to access a confusing and convoluted legislative tracking program, but our use of technology allows the taxpayers into the process, for free. It also reduces the overall costs of Senate operations. This is open government in real time.”
Citizens and journalists can now use the application to search for bill information, event calendars, blogs of individual Senators, watch archived video of Senate sessions, or reach their Senator. Using the built-in GPS device, users can also find which Senator represents where they are standing at any moment.
“Good government, is open government. Just two years ago, New Yorkers were locked out of the legislative process,” said Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson. “The former Majority required a $2,500 subscription to access a confusing and convoluted legislative tracking program, but our use of technology allows the taxpayers into the process, for free. It also reduces the overall costs of Senate operations. This is open government in real time.”
A punitive society is not the best kind of society: there's a real virtue in forgiveness, in second chances. But for years we've been applying Rand Paul's "accidents happen" principle to those at the top while heaping blame, scorn and draconian punishment on those at the bottom. Punitive damages are capped for corporations, while punitive policies proliferate for citizens. This tears the social contract apart, and the only way to repair it is to apply the same principles of accountability up and down the social hierarchy. We should start with BP.