Was 9/11 covered up? Register your opinion now in a poll at CNN

Mr. Novak errs slightly but significantly in quoting CNN as asking,

Do you agree that the U.S. government covered up the real events of the 9/11 attacks?

The actual quote from the cited CNN website is,

Do you agree with Charlie Sheen that the U.S. government covered up the real events of the 9/11 attacks?

(http://edition.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/show... 18:49 pst, 25/03/2006)

With all due respect, there is a difference between agreeing in principle and agreeing with Mr. Sheen.

Beyond that small nit, there is also the Quickvote disclaimer...

This QuickVote is not scientific and reflects the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, nor the public as a whole. The QuickVote sponsor is not responsible for content, functionality or the opinions expressed therein.

In other words, this poll has absolutely no meaning whatsoever other than it may please or annoy Charlie Sheen.

What I find sad about this survey is that,

(a.) It will likely be quoted by members of the newsmedia as if it was meaningful.

(b.) The very same disclaimer could be printed on each and every ballot used in public elections. Curious that it isn't.

We have warning labels on beer bottles and cigarette packages but not on ballots. Perhaps we could start here:

While binding, this election is not scientific and only reflects the opinions of those Voters who have bothered to vote. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of taxpayers in general, nor the public as a whole. The government is not responsible for content, functionality or the opinions expressed herein. In fact, the government is not responsible for anything, period. We have the guns and you don't. So there!

Democracy: A curious tool of governance which presumes that two fools are somehow wiser than one.

Michael Scott
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