Is there a two tier public opinion system in operation in the U.S.?

[KlatooBNikto]

What I mean by that is, are the polls reflective of a braod cross section of the American population by race, income, gender, region etc. or are they heavily weighted toward the upper income groups that tend to be more accessible to the poll takers and are more likely to vote?

I bring this up because, I read a recent article by Noam Chomsky that even when support for a position like continuing the Social Security program is overwhelming, the mass media keep insisting that the political support for the program is thin. He also goes on to mention that in the last election Kerry received somewhere around 31% of the eligible votes while Bush received slightly under 33%.This leaves about 36% of the eligible voters unaccounted for.

[mhr]

1. Selective Polling, Framing The Debate, And Fencing The Electorate

Have become staple tactics of the Republican agenda.

I would think that this had become obvious by now.

[tinonedown]

2. Polls are a right wing tool

you are on the right track. Don't trust them - ever!