Disgusting Rasmussen poll - Only 30% oppose torture

[totodeinhere]

Of course we should approach any Rasmussen poll with caution. He is a well known shill for the GOP. But if there is any truth to this poll at all then it is totally disgusting.

58% Favor Waterboarding of Plane Terrorist To Get Information

Fifty-eight percent (58%) of U.S. voters say waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques should be used to gain information from the terrorist who attempted to bomb an airliner on Christmas Day.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 30% oppose the use of such techniques, and another 12% are not sure.

Men and younger voters are more strongly supportive of the aggressive interrogation techniques than women and those who are older. Republicans and voters not affiliated with either major party favor their use more than Democrats.

It's not surprising that Republicans would be more in favor of torture than Democrats are, but it's very disappointing to see that the poll indicates that younger voters are more likely to support it. If this poll is accurate, only 30% of Americans oppose the use of torture. To me, it's totally appalling, and it makes me wonder if there is any hope left for this country.

[katanalori]

1. Yes, appalling.

Here is what Andrew Sullivan said about this:

"Who cares what the favorability rating of torture is? Our laws are based upon principle not passion, it's what keeps us from taking "justice" into our own hands and devolving into a mob."

[totodeinhere]

3. Thank you for that quote. It's right on. n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Now, that's a true conservative speaking

I've been saying for almost 30 years that conservative is the most abused word in the American political lexicon. Would you call the Ku Klux Klan a conservative organization? Then why call teabaggers conservative? Or Rush Limbaugh? Or Jesse Helms?

[Odin2005]

2. Ends-justify-the-Means thinking disgusts me.

This is why I can never accept Utilitarian ethics, it says torture is OK if it maximizes happiness in the end.

[CoffeeCat]

4. I'm so ashamed of my species!!

I think the alien in "Contact" said it best:

"You're an interesting species. An interesting mix. You're capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares."

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. The media including film/tv/video games have done their job in conditioning our populace to

base animal behavior.

It's 2010 and I would have thought that we, as people would have evolved and not devolved.

:cry:

[2 Much Tribulation]

7. Rasmussen is implicitly saying USA WORST IN WORLD ON TORTURE (links to other polls here)

In a 2006 worldwide poll of over 27,000 people in Geneva convention countries, the countries with the highest percentage of people willing to tolerate "some" torture under "some" circumstances were:
1. Israel (43%)
2. Iraq (42%),
3. Philippines (40%),
4. Indonesia (40%),
5. Russia (37%)
6. China (37%)
7. USA (36%).

Countries like Australia and Italy were on the other end with vast majorities highly opposed to torture, all of it, without exception (as international law requires).

Note that the questions in these polls don't remind people of what the law is. If they were told that their position violated international law to the extent any torture takes place, there would be significant erosion in the support (though surely not all)

All of the countries in the poll are in the Table at this jump cite http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6063386.stm#table

NOTE: If Rasmussen's questions were fair and their polling accurate (which many doubt it is, as it appears to fit the RNC playbook so well every week) then they are implicitly saying that USA has leapt up to #1 in the world in terms of willingness to be an international outlaw on torture, at least in some circumstances.

[totodeinhere]

10. If the 36% figure is more accurate, it's still appalling. n/t

[Land Shark]

20. in 2006, that's after almost 5 years' steady propaganda

Given that there's truth in what's attributed to hitler (or goebbels) that you can make anyone believe anything if you repeat it long enough and loud enough, one could take the data reasonably as good evidence of resistance.

If the question is phrased only in terms of "getting information" vs "Moral" considerations, "survival" as too many wrongly perceive it will sometimes justify stretching some "moral" rules on the margins, thus the question limits torture to "some" or "sometimes" when circumstances are right... Bottom line is that all these polls are poorly worded and/or push pulls. If the same people heard a real discussion or debate with all the considerations, the numbers would be very low. Support for torture can only be sustained in relative ignorance.

[mdmc]

8. The "Brave" new world

:eyes:

[shotten99]

9. I trust Zogby more than Rasmussen's fundie ass.

'nuff said.

[bluestateguy]

11. I'm for it for white collar corporate criminals

I wouldn't lift a finger if Bernie Madoff or Jack Abramoff were tortured.

[totodeinhere]

12. In May 2009 Gallup found that 52% said that torture was either often justified or sometimes...

justified.

http://www.pollingreport.com/terror.htm

[BolivarianHero]

13. I don't oppose torture...

Radicals need to send a clear message to reactionary interests who interfere with the democratic election of progressive governments in Latin America. If this means reclaiming their old torture facilities and using it against them to scare away the Roberto Michelettis and Pedro Cormonas of this world, then so be it.

[Cassandra]

14. That's what happens...

when you oversample repukes.

[DBoon]

15. in some countries torturers are prosecuted

and those who opposed torture are now venerated as heroes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothers_of_the_Plaza_de_Mayo

[kgnu_fan]

16. torture was the least of the many crimes ...

...Furthermore, torture was the least of the many crimes of aggression, terror, subversion and economic strangulation that have darkened US history, much as in the case of other great powers....


http://www.chomsky.info/articles/20090524.htm
The Torture Memos
Noam Chomsky
chomsky.info, May 24, 2009

[kgnu_fan]

17. knr for reflection

[malaise]

18. They supported lynching too and slavery

but it doesn't make it right.

[msongs]

19. well if it was good enough for jesus.....nt