The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Shatner Shattered

8.4.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 3 of 3)

By the same token, however, those of use who believe in liberty must stop agitating for a border fence.

In the years to come. WE may be the ones who need lots of open escape routes.
-- Martin Owens
Sacramento, California

TALKING SHOP
Re: Robert Stacy McCain's reply (under "Methodology") in Reader Mail's Packer Problems:

Okay, I'll admit that I've never had any education on the theory and methods of polling.

However, I have sufficient education in both mathematics and hard science disciplines. This includes a great deal in statistical and quantitative analysis.

Again, I contend that a sample size of less than 0.1 per million where results yield error often between seven and twelve percent cannot be considered accurate. If my readings in chemistry didn't fall into a range of less than five percent, they could not be considered accurate. A populate determination in biology cannot tolerate an error greater than five percent. The same is true in physics. Now, I understand that polling isn't a hard science, and for that reason the term "accurate" might be considered a little differently, but why can't pollsters agree that their polls may not be truly accurate reflections of the population they serve?

Consider that in Britain, they use sample sizes as much as three times greater than we do in the US and with a much smaller population. Why is that? Again, I'll admit that there may be an ignorance of the theory behind polling methods of which I am not aware. But rather than simply asserting that the data can be considered accurate, can you share the theory that supports your claim as well? Really, if I am wrong in not trusting polls because I do not trust the methodology, I would like to know why I'm wrong so I can reevaluate.
-- Charles Campbell
Austin, Texas

SAVED FROM ROUSH
Re: Reader letters (under "Not Taken Lightly") in Reader Mail's Packer Problems:

I thank those fine folks that rose to defend my choice of words that was attacked by our resident liberal troll. Thank you for having my back, but it is nothing more than I would expect from him. Actually, by him attacking me, I now know that I was probably right. I shall wear his attack as a badge of honor. Oh, and lest there be any doubt, the day that Thomas Sowell announces a run for POTUS, I shall immediately write a check to his campaign fund and sign up as a volunteer to work for his election. The idea that the Obamasiah would be the first black President is, or should be, a total embarrassment to the entire population of black Americans. It totally demeans the entire race to think that this is the best that they have to offer. I know better. Oh, and I say that as a white citizen that graduated high school the first year after Brown v. Board integrated the schools in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. That was 1956 for those of you out there that are counting. The Obamasiah is such a danger to the America that I know and love, that I am even considering voting for McCain in Nov., and that is something that I NEVER thought I would say. I had previously determined to opt out of the POTUS line on the ballot.

Damn, I love the "Letters" section of this publication. It is both a joy to read, and a place to become better educated on the issues addressed. Frankly, the best part of the emag.
-- Ken Shreve

BROKEN AWAY
Re: Ryan L. Cole & Elijah Steele's Bloomington Art Is Overrated:

I was born and raised in Bloomington. I didn't have a chance to place my two cents on that board. What a croc! The real question here is, "what is art?" This was just a display of stupidity, not art. You should be attacking the artist, not the inhabitants of the town. Yes, art can be controversial, but I notice that the artist didn't make a public announcement as to where the displays would be located. By the sound of it they were next to Peoples Park on Kirkwood and near campus, one of the most unethical places you can go in Bloomington, a place where drugs and alcohol flow freely (I must add that every town has places like that).

Democracy is FREEDOM. Freedom to think, freedom to love, freedom to work, freedom to worship God, freedom to walk the streets, freedom to do what I please, freedom to be me. Quote that!!!!!!!!! I love being a woman in America. I would rather be here than anywhere else in the world.
-- Heather O. Goddard

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Education, John McCain, Barack Obama, Environment, Constitution, Law, Founding Fathers, Military, Iraq, Iran, Russia, Pakistan, NATO, Immigration, Energy, Oil