Colbert Demonstrates Misuse of Polling in American Media

The Colbert Repoll (9:08)

Statistics and graphs are a staple in today's media, especially in the political arena. Stephen Colbert, anchor of Comedy Central's satirical news program The Colbert Report, recently conducted "The Colbert Repoll" which asked the "Colbert Nation" certain political questions. This poll is effective visually because it is clearly written and easy to understand.

Obviously, the poll above is not a scientific one. It is meant to mock the misuse of polls in American media. Scientific polls are generally meant to:

- Demonstrate the mood of a state or country.
- Allow citizens to participate in a democracy.
- Give politicians an idea of what their constituents are looking for.

However, polls are often used as talking points for campaigning politicians, lobbyists, and pundits. Furthermore, polling is not always accurate and most times the questions are extremely general. That is the point Colbert makes with his poll. By putting the actual legislative process of reconciliation, it forces a voter to have an understanding of the process in able to vote intelligently.

On the other hand, many polls phrase their questions like: "Do you support health care?" This type of gross generalization makes polling arbitrary. It impedes their legitimacy by making complicated issues into categorical alternatives.

The media also plays an extremely large role in statistical data. The media's relationship to polling is such that an outlet with some bias (which most have) are going to use the polls which are more favorable to their political standards. Thus, interpreting polls for the public, regurgitating their version back to us, and ultimately facilitating a less informed citizenship. In this manner, polling has actually become counterproductive in terms of a functional democracy.