In yet another example of a poll prepared to reach a particular result, the New York Times and CBS released the results of certain questions asked of Americans about Syria and North Korea. The questions about Syria are the ones that most caught my attention. Folks were not asked if they thought America should take any action with regard to Syria. Instead, the question asked was whether or not the USA had a responsibility to end the fighting in Syria.
Let's stop there. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I have strong feelings about the need for action in Syria to stop the ongoing slaughter or innocents. Nevertheless, I do not think America has a responsibility to act; that would require some sort of legal obligation. We need to act because it is in our own interest to do so. We also need to act because it is the moral thing to do. But responsibility -- we do not have that obligation.
In the days to come, the results of this poll will be discussed in general terms. Hardly anyone will look at the wording of the questions to see that the deck was stacked by the polling organization. The results will reinforce the view that by avoiding any response to the use of chemical weapons by Assad, that president Obama is carrying out the will of the people.
Let's stop there. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I have strong feelings about the need for action in Syria to stop the ongoing slaughter or innocents. Nevertheless, I do not think America has a responsibility to act; that would require some sort of legal obligation. We need to act because it is in our own interest to do so. We also need to act because it is the moral thing to do. But responsibility -- we do not have that obligation.
In the days to come, the results of this poll will be discussed in general terms. Hardly anyone will look at the wording of the questions to see that the deck was stacked by the polling organization. The results will reinforce the view that by avoiding any response to the use of chemical weapons by Assad, that president Obama is carrying out the will of the people.
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