Last night we were robo-polled by a research firm. While the call came in just before dinner, I decided to answered the phone. Rather than a live hooman it was an automated poll.
Something told me to answer the questions to find out whether or not the poll was being conducted by a firm contracted by the Dems or the GOP. After the first couple a questions it became very clear that this was a GOP poll.
Let me share some of the questions that they asked.
The first question was to ensure that the person answering was over the age of eighteen.
The next question asked was the "is the country on the right track/wrong track?" Press 1 for yes, 2 for no, 3 for not sure. OK pretty straight forward question.
The next question asked was whether I supported corporate welfare. Same Press 1, 2, 3 options.
On to some demographics. Press 1 for male, 2 for female.
How often do you vote in National elections? 1 always, 2 most of the time, 3 sometimes, 4 not very often
The next question was where it began to get interesting.
Do you support leaving Defense spending at 4% Gross Domestic Product? Press 1 for agree, 2 for disagree, 3 for not sure.
I would venture to guess that most people if asked would not know what the total GDP is in the country. Without knowing that, the question is BS because you can't know for sure how many billions of GDP we are talking about for Defense spending?
The next question focused on Medicare/Medicaid: Do you approve of repealing Medicare/Medicaid and replacing it with Health Savings Accounts? 1 for approve, 2 for disapprove, 3 for not sure. Wow. Here we go again. Privatizing Medicare.
Do you favor replacing Social Security with a system of private retirement account? 1 for approve, 2 for disapprove, 3 for not sure. Again, wow and double wow. I gues the GOP did not learn back in 2005 that people don't want to privatize Medicare/Medicaid or Social security.
OK now for some more:
Do you think the Department of Education should be abolished? 1 for yes, 2 for no, 3 for not sure. Holy schoolbook, Batman!
Do you think the Department of Agriculture should be abolished? 1 for yes, 2 for no, 3 for not sure. WTF?????????
While the previous two questions ventured into wingnuttia, the next question ventured even deeper.
Do you think that Government welfare programs should be abolished and replaced with private charities? 1 for yes, 2 for no, 3 for not sure. Again, WTF?????
The rest of the survey dealt with basic demographic stuff like age, income bracket, ethnicity. But the poll did ask if the respondent was over the age of eighteen. What, they didn't believe me when they asked the first time?
What was interesting was that the poll did not contain any questions about terror, the underpants bomber and whether he should be tried in a military or civilian court, DADT, Iraq or Afghanistan.
The poll did give me a glimpse into what the GOP may be planning to use as issues for the 2010 election. Privatize Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security, orivatize our welfare systemm abolish whole Departments in the Government, and maintain or possibly increase Defense spending. The poll did give me an insight as to what the GOP is all about and that is really frightening. It shows me that they don't give a flying frak about those who are really hurting. It also made me realize that I need to vote against these idiots in Novemeber. They are truly scary.
Update: I left one question off and remembered it.
Do you agree that free trade leads to prosperity and that barriers to free trade be abolished? Press 1 for agree, 2 for disagree, 3 for not sure.