The company confirmed to The Hill that it would stop publishing approval and favorability ratings of individual political figures starting this year, saying in a statement that it “reflects an evolution in the way Gallup focuses its public research and thought leadership.”
We question ‘evolution’. This is a step backwards, for both public figures and voters.
Media outlets have used the Gallup Presidential Approval Rating for decades as a barometer to gauge what Americans think of the president’s performance.
Presidents either loved the numbers or hated them, and political parties fell in line, praising or decrying the polls. But the goal wasn’t to gain favors or score points; the Gallup poll merely reflected what Americans thought. And our leaders cannot lose that window into the electorate’s judgment.
It’s a bit like the ancient Roman practice of memento mori, where generals and emperors paraded through the streets after a triumph to cheering crowds. A servant stood behind the honored leader and whispered in his ear, “Look back. Remember that you are mortal. Remember that you must die!”
A poll isn’t that dramatic, but it’s important to remind whoever wins the White House that the Oval Office and its trappings could all disappear in the next election, and that there is a president to serve the people. Survey figures underline this.
President Trump has seen his rating by the agency decline in recent months, peaking at 47% last February and falling to less than 37% in the latest poll in December. He’s probably not happy with these results, but we’ll see if Trump’s moves on illegal immigration and deportation will result in a rise in popularity.
Some may take bad polls as a signal to correct course, others may ignore them and blame things elsewhere. We’ve seen this on both sides of the aisle. But the polls also serve another purpose: amplifying the voice of the American people.
You may never get a call from the Gallup Organization, but seeing a negative or positive view of leadership reflected in a survey of fellow voters underlines the fact that we have a say in how our government is run, and that we have the right to let our leaders know what we think of them.
When asked by The Hill whether Gallup had received any feedback from the White House or anyone in the current administration before making the decision, the spokesperson said: “This is a strategic change based solely on Gallup’s research goals and priorities.”
Why getting rid of a time-honored and oft-cited product is a good priority is baffling, but time will tell if this move benefits the company.
Maybe they should have done a survey to see if it was a good idea.
#Editorial #Gallup #left #presidential #approval #poll #blunder