Journalists may extract a 30-second soundbite and balloon it into an entire news story, often to portray their own viewpoint. Also, media will many times reason from effect to cause, determining the likelihood of a program s success or failure based on public opinion. In March 2000, PFAW researched public opinion on teaching evolution and creation in public schools. Considered one way, the results reveal 79 percent of all Americans polled want creationism taught in the classroom. Both claims are accurate, but holding back the details creates different messages.
Polls can be interesting and fun.
Depending on accuracy, they can disclose information about our neighbors opinions, perhaps revealing areas where Christians should be more active. In the end, polls should have little or no bearing on whether and how you vote. Voting is a privilege and a duty. And we should seek God s guidance in it, not opinion polls. Only God, along with the commitment and courage exercised by people of faith, can restore truth and morality to our land.