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From: thompso@utecfc.UUCP (Mark Thompson)
Newsgroups: can.politics
Subject: re: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT REFERENDUM
Message-ID: <18@utecfc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 4-Oct-84 16:47:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: utecfc.18
Posted: Thu Oct  4 16:47:09 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 4-Oct-84 20:22:28 EDT
Organization: Engineering Computing Facility, University of Toronto
Lines: 40



Eugene Fiume writes:

>I hope it's obvious to everyone that the recent calls for the return of the
>death penalty is almost totally the result of a media blitz.  Just as the
>the incredible number of polls prior to the election shaped public opinion,
>instead of the other way around, the irrational over-reaction by police and
>others to the obvious death-wishes of a few nutcases has been sickeningly
>exploited by the media.  The behaviour of our news media is a wonderful
>argument against referenda.


What utter garbage! Calls for the return of capital punishment have been
heard ever since the spineless ones in Ottawa got rid of it. All the
media is doing is reporting on public opinion that is being voiced even
more vocally due to the recent rash of police slayings. How would you
feel if you were a policeman Eugene?  

It has been shown that polls have little effect on public opinion. They
merely happen to report on what that opinion is at the time. You would find
that those supporting capital punishment are a consistent majority.

Sounds like you are sore about the landslide conservative victory the way
you are beefing about opinion polls but remember that they were merely
reporting what was evident - people were REALLY sick of the gang who had
been in Ottawa the last two decades.

The media has little to do with a referendum other than informing people
on current events. A referendum would be a true measure of what people
want.

Sounds like you're scared that the pro capital punishment side would
easily win!!!!!!


                                     Mark Thompson
                                     UTME