| What is it with the media's love of meaningless polls?
In an article in today's Rutland Herald, staff writer Susan Smallheer may have slipped and fallen prey to Vermont poll syndrome by letting another questionable poll punch above its weight. This stands out from Smallheer’s usual Vermont Yankee coverage.
The paywalled article: Report: Entergy will keep operating Yankee, without state permit; Houston firm predicts a courtroom showdown between Vt., Entergy is about Jefferies Equity Research firm’s report that surmises Entergy’s coming strategy. Many doubt the study's conclusions that Entergy will just continue to operate the plant and fight Vermont in the courts. The study includes an aggressive disclaimer: Jefferies does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. Investors should be aware that Jefferies may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report
So how does a pound of feathers ever weigh more than a pound? Smallheer claims:The Jefferies report also gave weight to the recent results of The Doyle Poll, the unscientific poll conducted during town meeting by Sen. William Doyle, a Washington County Republican, which showed that 45 percent of Vermonters now favored Vermont Yankee to continue to operate. The poll, which is voluntary and open to repeated participation, showed a flip from 2010, when Vermonters were 52 percent against the relicensing, in the wake of the radioactive tritium leaks at Yankee.
But this poll, Doyle’s latest in his long running series of voluntary, easily manipulated polls, was taken on town meeting day before the almost month old Fukushima power plant problems.
Can’t imagine how the Jefferies report - insightful or not - gives weight to a thoroughly unscientific local poll taken before the Japanese nuclear accident which may shift attitudes. It still weighs a pound. |
