[Mpls] Smoking Ban Poll

[David Brauer]

Mike Jensvold writes:

> The poll cited in your article yesterday has been a subject of some fairly
> vigorous debate on the Minneapolis Issues email list.  Most on the list
> don't buy the results, especially because it was conducted by a pro-ban
> group. 

Irony here: we don't know how "most on the list" feel because the
overwhelming majority (we have about 900 addresses) don't post.

In other words, the sample size (those who post) is too darn small to
generalize about broader public opinion.

I've always thought the list's value is in (hopefully) providing insight,
information and provocative questions.

I realize Mike might mean "most who posted," but I can't pass up the chance
to stress that the list is more valid as a debating society than a
quasi-poll.

David Brauer
Kingfield