Polls are Indications of the Status Quo

Polls are simply indications of the status quo. With a presidential election looming, political polls generate tremendous interest and dominate news headlines. Why is the pre-election polling data so popular? Perhaps, there is an innate human desire to convince ourselves that we are capable of predicting the future. Certainly, current and historical data can be a guide for the future. However, the future is always in the realm of the unknown (scriptural prophecy may be an exception to this). If the future is always unknown, what is the value of opinion polling? Do the results of a poll that you have not participated in influence decisions you have not yet made? Do the results of polls that you have contributed to cause you to question your responses to the poll? Are your principles so strong that opinion polling has no effect on you? If you are undecided about a particular issue, do opinion polling results assist in helping you make an informed decision?

Regarding the presidential election, do significant historical data exist that link poll data to actual election result data? If such data exist, will this data have any effect on current and/or future elections? Perhaps. However, affectation will never be an accurate indication of future events.

Opinion polls are interesting. Opinion polls can be fun. However, beyond a simple indication of the current state of affairs, opinion polls are just what they claim to be, opinions. Opinions can certainly shape future events, however, opinions have no predictive qualities.