Quote:
Originally posted by MrSelfDestruct
Population of Atlanta: 416474
Number of protestors: ~700
Percentage of the population of Atlanta who showed up for the protest (making the incorrect assumption that every one of the people lived in Atlanta):0.0168%
(for Comparison)Percentage of the US population who voted fro Ralph Nader in 2000: 2.74% [source:http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/2000presgeresults.htm]
700 people is nothing.
|
Actually, it takes quite an effort to get 700 people to show up for a protest. What's the last protest/demonstration/political meeting you went to?
In the same way, congresspeople tend to pay attention to people who send them letters, even if it's just a form letter. The theory is that the people who actually make the effort to do something are the people that will vote, and influence the vote of others.
That said, I agree that 700 people showing up is not a mandate on the president's national performance. There are really good surveys that measure that.
A quick googling show's Bush's current approval rating at 52 percent. This is based on the Field poll, which is pretty reputable.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/16/na...partner=GOOGLE