So the new Zogby Poll is about the bird flu and includes questions

[acmavm]

about martial law (although it doesn't call it that). It even mentions that ABC propaganda movie intended to cause fear and panic.

What do you think, is Zogby buying into the propaganda or are they trying to spread the fear?

[mcscajun]

1. The question is not "Is Zogy buying into the propaganda" but

"Who is buying this poll?" Literally. Who is paying to have these questions asked?

[pacalo]

5. You hit the nail on the head.

When I opened the poll & saw questions about "avian flu", my immediate thought was 'Bush administration'. I didn't bother with this poll.

No other administration would put fear into the country to serve its own agenda: in this case, a foot in the door to put us under martial law.

[salvorhardin]

2. I have an idea

Maybe Zogby is trying to ascertain general opinion on the topic? You know, 'cause that's what a pollster usually does.

[acmavm]

4. Maybe, but notice that there really wasn't a question asking whether or

not you believe all the hype. They ask if you'd support mandatory quarantines under different circumstance, but not if you believe that this situation is being manipulated. And this is important.

[Dogmudgeon]

3. "ABC propaganda movie intended to cause fear and panic..."

I don't recall anyone having nervous breakdowns this past winter, or the last, because of the effects of The Day After Tomorrow.

It's incredibly cynical -- and arrogant -- of us to think we're the only people in the world who can watch a movie and not go nuts. Chances are that there will only be one or two hospital admissions for psychotic breaks as a result of the movie.

Some people might even demand that Team Bush develop an effective pandemic-control and public health program, not another excuse for using the Constitution as toilet paper.

I wish we'd had a little more "propaganda" and "fear and panic" in 1980, instead of statements that AIDS was Gawd's righteous punishment for gay sex.

--p!