by Fred Moleck

Polls Junky

The intense campaigning of Senators Obama and Clinton has excited in me a new addiction: following the polls that indicate the popularity of the two candidates.

I’m glued to the TV right before the elections to see what direction the voting will take. I’ve rarely been disappointed. My cultivated intuitive judgment-making hasn’t failed me.

What the polls tell me is that my crystal ball is still in good working order.

The sophistication of the polls’ interpretation has reached new heights as to population groups who voted the way they voted.

For example, last month’s election in Pennsylvania surfaced a group that was new to me: rural males living in central Pennsylvania who drink beer, own guns, and hunt animals voted almost exclusively for one of the candidates.

On Wednesday of last week, Reuters News Agency reported a poll taken in the United States by the Marist College Institute for Pubic Opinion that was commissioned by the Knights of Columbus.

The bells went off in the mental slot where my Polls Junky lives. I wasn’t disappointed—it was about the papal visit to the United States.

What were they polling? What else, but the fallout and outcome of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States, of course.

For example:

61% felt that his visit exceeded their expectations but only 35% said they were more in touch with their spiritual values

A highlight of his visit was the surprise meeting with the sexually abused victims. If you were following the news hype the week before, there was a hint that such a meeting would take place.

58% were satisfied with Benedict’s apologies
32% thought there were enough procedures in place to avoid another scandal
46% thought more had to be done
22% were not sure

40% thought the session with the victims was the most meaningful part of the papal visit

A general view of his visit yielded these figures:

65% have a more positive understanding of the pope
21% thought it made some difference
14% thought it made no difference

Apparently, no one thought to include in the polling to ask everyone’s opinion about the pope’s 2-foot miter, Baroque vestments, and cross (crozier).

What I think we need now is a poll on what the musicians who were watching the events thought about the music.

Some questions that might be asked:

Did you recognize any of the music that was used, and if so, at which liturgy?

Did you not recognize any music that was used, and if so, at which liturgy?

Do you already have any of the music in your music library?

Are you going to buy any of the music used for your music library?

Maybe one of the divisions of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians could embark on this project so we can gain our position in the Catholic media.

I would be pleased to have yet another poll on which I can fixate.
I would represent another target group: urban males living in western Pennsylvania who don’t drink beer, don’t own guns, and would never think of shooting anything or anyone.

You can reach Fred Moleck via email at fmoleck@comcast.net

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