Times Poll on War Misses the Mark

The amorality revealed in your April 5 Times poll is disturbing (“Support Grows for Military Actions”). Apparently, many people’s approval of the war depends on whether they feel our side is winning. But the results are suspect because the poll was amazingly biased. Every question either gave the pro-war option first or made a pro-war suggestion and asked whether people agreed, so “yes” was always the pro-war response.

For meaningful polling, half should have been turned around. For instance, instead of asking, “Will U.S. military action against Iraq make the world a safer place, or not?” why not ask: “Will U.S. military action against Iraq increase terrorist attacks, or not?” Wording matters.

Susan Duerksen

San Diego

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By polling 745 people, The Times was able to conclude that this administration had the confidence of a majority of the American public concerning the way it’s handling the war and that Bush’s popularity is soaring once again. I, on the other hand, hear (unscientifically) strongly the reverse from a group of 300-plus politically aware and active adults with whom I regularly come in contact.

In addition, there’s been increasingly strong opposition to policy, both war and domestic, voiced by a general population, including residents and visitors from all parts of the country, when I weekly work at a registration table on Palm Springs’ main street. Some locals even stop and change their party affiliations, stating they’ve voted straight Republican all of their lives and now wonder why, because they’re so disgusted with the present government.

There’s even been a weekly peace vigil in the heart of town, drawing participants from as far away as Twentynine Palms (where our troops are certainly supported), Hemet and Riverside. And this in an area generally conceded to be a bastion of conservatism! I personally can only take heart in believing there is a strong and growing loyal opposition that will not be overwhelmed by despair as the propaganda machine on all fronts rolls on.

Eleanor Jackson

Palm Springs

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Each week, President Bush gives a couple of cheerleading speeches at military bases, then goes to Camp David for the weekend, and his approval rating shoots up to 68%. I must be living in another dimension.

Steve Fisher

Burbank