'What Does the Public Know?' (Updated)

George Rebane

That question was asked recently by the Pew Research Center of a random sample of Americans who answer phones.  The survey contained a 12 multiple choice question questionnaire.  The questions were pretty vanilla about the current world.  There was only one question the answer to which may be debatable.

The sidebar is one of the results panels that you can see when you visit the survey's website, but go here first to answer the questionnaire to see how you did.

Hat tip to a regular RR reader for the link, and who also remarked, "Scary.  And they all vote."

[update] On ClimateGate and AB32, I am fascinated how uneven is the coverage of these major news events.  One revealing the patent fraud behind the IPCC 'science' (and there's a lot more to come as this door is pried open) and the silence of the lambs.  This even as IPCC scientists are beginning to denounce their colleagues (here) while our leftwing Congress is trying to rush Waxman-Markey through on the coattails of ObamaCare.

The other news deals with AB32 - California's economic death knell legislation now being hurried into practice by the socialists.  It seems that there is a great awakening occurring and an initiative, led by our Assemblyman Dan Logue, to get AB32 repealed in next year's election.

See more on this and related climate change news on Russ Steele's NC Media Watch. 

Comments

[Russ Steele]

George,

Got all 12 right! Reading blogs can give you an advantage.

[Steven Frisch]

I alos got all 12 right, which goes to show you reading the New York Times can give you an advantage.

[George Rebane]

Welcome back Mr Frisch! We have always enjoyed the advantage provided by your comments.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

I knew you couldn't stay away Steve, welcome back

Friends of yours Steve?? - I thought that might be you on the drum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSEaHyzbqTA&NR=1

[George Rebane]

The Earth First tree huggers in that video clip will be shocked beyond recovery when the world order they are promoting comes to pass. As recognized irrational idealists, they will be among the first into the gulag or to the wall. Totalitarian regimes, arriving in the wake of utopian heralds, have always eaten first the children of the revolution. Such people have to be removed quickly, because their productive skills are few and their disappointed zeal will just as easily turn to counter-revolution. It was ever thus.

[Account Deleted]

I won't say I "aced it" as I had to guess (correctly) the troop strength level. I'm thinking the one about the level of unemployment is the one you think is debatable George? I knew the official vs. the actual but went with the official. I would be more interested in what the average American thinks is actually in the so-called health care reform bill(s) currently in play. That would be an eye opener for a lot of folks. Of course, if you quote verbatim from the bills, you will stand convicted of spreading lies about health care reform, but that's the price to pay for staying informed.
Cheers!

[George Rebane]

Scott, the cost of healthcare question could be debatable because of the way most European countries tally up their costs is reported to be different than the way we do - apples and oranges.

[Steve Enos]

"California's economic death knell legislation now being hurried into practice by the socialists".

So George it's "socialists" that are behind AB32, it's "socialists"?

George, you have gone over the edge and your pointless name calling sure doesn't help your cause to have anything close to a ratinal discussion about issues.

[George Rebane]

Again we see the narrow view of some mountain folk who, when encountering a notion new or disagreeable to them, immediately attach its provenance only to its bearer. It seems as if these people never look beyond their nearby horizon.

In any case, it is interesting how many people out there consider the attachment of the label 'socialist' as "name calling". A centrist or conservative would not consider such a label, even if attributed mistakenly, as "name calling". What stigma is there in being called a socialist when one advances tenets of socialism? Socialists the world over, who advance such tenets, are proud of the appellation. Why not here?

[Dixon Cruickshank]

Steve its not name calling its a definition ----

so⋅cial⋅ism  /ˈsoʊʃəˌlɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [soh-shuh-liz-uhm] Show IPA

–noun 1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.

utopian socialism 

–noun (sometimes initial capital letter) an economic system based on the premise that if capital voluntarily surrendered its ownership of the means of production to the state or the workers, unemployment and poverty would be abolished.

If the shoe fits

[Steve Enos]

George provides yet another example of name calling that does not add to a real discussion of the issue:

"Again we see the narrow view of some mountain folk who..."

Very sad and no way to convince others outside of your like minded group that you have anything worthwhile to say. If you want to have any hope of advancing your positions take your own advice and ... "Look beyond YOUR nearby horizon".

[George Rebane]

Steve, the solution is simple. Give up trying to fix my character, and either address the issues discussed or find blogs that feature writers more compatible with your sensibilities. You have a demonstrated ability to stick to the subject and contribute/contend - exercise it. Remember, this is my sandbox, and if all you want to do is come and spew ad hominem vitriol, then I have no choice but to put you in the category of your friend who came often and never contributed at all. (He still does an occasional strafe or two that I, like most other local bloggers similarly assaulted, just delete.)

[Mikey McD]

The new bumper sticker I hope to get for Christmas will say,"abolish slavery-again"- Collectivism/socialism = slavery! To call someone a socialist is to call them a slave driver or would be slave. The irony is that the progressives themselves consider being called a progressive "name calling." When a discussion is purely based on emotion (devoid of facts, history, liberty) what can be expected?

[Sini Fernandez]

You'll be happy to know I was 12 for 12. ;-) A suggestion though... can you have links to external sites (like the quiz) open in a new window rather than the current window? That would make it easier to return to Rebane's Ruminations after I've finished reading the additional information you are referencing. Just a thought.

[George Rebane]

Excellent suggestion Sini, I'll have to see if the mavens at TypePad will support that. And, of course, I'm happy ;-)

[Dixon Cruickshank]

George please don't run Steve off, he's adds something sometimes kinda maybe