THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume X, Issue # 32, February 5, 2008
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
EARTHJUSTICE'S CLEAN WATER POLL COMES UP SHORT:
A Close Look at Earthjustice Polling on the Clean Water Act
By J. Peyton Knight
ENVIRONMENTALISTS, ENVIRONMENTALIST PROPAGANDA, & THE CLEAN WATER ACT: EARTH JUSTICE & ITS
MANIPULATION & DISTORTION OF THE RESULTS OF ITS PUSH POLL, SEEKING TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT RURAL
VOTING DISTRICTS SUPPORT A VAST EXPANSION OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT, INCLUDING BRINGING FEDERAL REGULATORY
AUTHORITY TO EVERY FIELD DRAINAGE DITCH, POND, & PRAIRIE POTHOLE IN THE U.S.A. -- THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
STORY REVEALED BY THE ACTUAL POLLING DATA & THE ONE EARTHJUSTICE PRESENTED IN ITS PRESS RELEASE
FULL STORY:
Last month, the environmentalist activists at Earthjustice breathlessly released the results of a poll that the group had
commissioned and that supposedly reveals rural voters' feelings on the Clean Water Act. The purpose of this classic
push poll is to give the impression that rural voting districts support a vast expansion of the Clean Water Act, and,
therefore, would support the Clean Water Restoration Act (H.R. 2421 and S. 1870), a bill designed to bring federal
regulatory authority to every field drainage ditch, pond, and prairie pothole in the nation.
However, a look at the actual polling data reveals a different story than the one the group presents in its press release.
For example, in its press release, Earthjustice claims:
"Results from the survey of 300 randomly selected rural voters
in each of three congressional districts in Illinois (15th), Ohio
(18th) and Tennessee (4th), polled in mid-December, 2007, show
that more than three-fourths of those polled indicated they were
very concerned about pollution of lakes, rivers and streams."
This simply is not true. The poll results clearly show that an average of only 55 percent of those polled responded that
they were "very concerned"about "pollution of lakes, rivers and streams." Thus, Earthjustice inflated the poll's actual
results by over 20 percent.
In addition, the results show that a clear majority of those polled (roughly 63 percent) do not have ANY concerns about
drinking water straight from the tap. This bit of inconvenient truth failed to make it into the Earthjustice press release.
Christine Matthews, President of the firm that conducted the poll for Earthjustice, states in the press release: "The notion
that farmers might view environmental regulations as excessive was absolutely not in evidence here."
This may be true, however, only because Matthews' company didn't bother to ask many farmers. The polling data shows
that a whopping 77 percent of those polled do not "currently own, operate, or work on a farm."
Earthjustice also trumpets that 55 percent of those polled agreed with the poll interviewer that "the government has not
gone far enough with laws to protect the environment and to keep our water free from pollution." But, considering the
usual one-sided nature of push polls, this particular poll's 5.6 percent margin of error and the fact that those likely to be
most affected by federal clean water regulations (i.e., farmers) weren't truly represented, this number is hardly impressive.
In fact, nearly half of those questioned either responded that "the government has gone too far with laws regulating [and
promoting] environmental protection which has hurt businesses and
landowners," or didn't care enough to have an opinion.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Political Environmentalism Versus Human Progress & Prosperity:
Policy Issues Relating to Energy, Environment,
& Natural Resources
Science, Ethics, & Human Health:
Human Health & Public Policy
J. Peyton Knight is Executive Director of the American Policy Center, a nonprofit, grassroots activist think tank
headquartered in Warrenton, Virginia, and dedicated to advancing the principles of private property rights, free markets,
and constitutionally limited government. Knight is also Washington, D.C. representative for the American Land Rights
Association, a grassroots, nonprofit property rights and multiple-use advocacy organization. Knight's commentary is
published by the Conservative Monitor, NewsWithViews.com, www.examiner.com, Amy
Ridenour's National Center Blog (www.national center.org), The Progressive Conservative USA
(www.proconservative.net), and numerous other periodicals and websites.
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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