Saturday, September 12, 2020

Sports and the Election

Interesting results from a recent Gallup poll, tracking Americans' views of various business and industry sectors.  Gallup measured the views on twenty-five sectors, asking if the views were very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative or very negative.

Of the twenty-five sectors, first a look at those whose net rating (net positive minus net negative) was the lowest:

The federal government is at the bottom.  I would like to be happy about this, but we don’t know if it is because people feel it is doing too much or not enough.  In any case, Pharmaceutical and sports aren’t much above it, with most of the remaining cellar-dwellers in industries that work to shove garbage down our throats.

Focusing in on sports, what is really interesting is how far it has fallen in one year; no industry has fallen further:

Even more interesting, the change in net score for the sports category in a year is negative in every mentioned grouping:

Gallup does not explain why this is.  I will take a crack at it.  For sports, two things are different from a year ago: first, sports seasons were interrupted or cancelled – hence, people are expressing their disappointment in this; second, in those sports that have restarted, and especially in professional basketball, there is one message above all other – even more important than which team wins the game. 

It is a message in support of the destruction seen in dozens of American cities; it is a message that takes incomplete or even false narratives of sporadic and random events and places these above the countless daily counter-examples; it is a message of chaos and violence; it is a message that demonizes their largest and wealthiest customer base.

To the first possibility, that people are disappointed that seasons were interrupted or cancelled.  This is also true of the restaurant industry, yet it ranks third out of twenty-five in net positive ratings; it is true of both education and travel, yet these rank mid-pack, still with a good net positive rating.  So, perhaps it isn’t this.

Maybe, instead, it is the other thing – the messaging that demonizes its audience, based on half-truths and lies and with the obvious objective of bringing chaos and destruction.  And, maybe, this is what it has in common with the other cellar-dwellers: they are all killing us with lies.

If it is the other thing, the results by the various demographic categories are telling: the net positive ratings decrease from last year is more pronounced in the ages that are far more likely to vote, as those above age 30 are up to two times more likely to vote than those who are younger.  Further, the rate of change is more in non-white Americans than in white Americans, and almost as pronounced in independents as in republicans.  

I am going to suggest that this will be reflected in the voting in November – assuming current trends hold.  And why wouldn’t they?  This weekend, we get the start of the National Football League, and we have been promised more of what the NBA has been giving us: messaging that demonizes the majority of Americans – messaging that, it seems, even non-white Americans might not appreciate.

Other polls, directly regarding the election, are showing results or trends favorable to republicans – even among minorities.  But nothing grabs the emotion like sports.

Conclusion

If the cause behind the dramatic fall in the net positive view of sports is as I believe it is, then this could be quite telling for November.  The fall is greatest in those age groups most likely to vote, it is significant in the non-white population (normally described as democrat voters) and in independents, who, I guess, could choose to vote either way.

The republicans, therefore Trump, could win in a landslide this November.  Not that election night will tell the tale.  There are elements both inside and outside of the government who won’t be happy about such an outcome.  I don’t suspect they will go quietly.

 

 

5 comments:

  1. I can understand why people are increasingly turned off by sports, but I am a little surprised that the travel industry would fall 11 points to an upside-down position. What has this industry done which might be the cause?

    I also noticed that pharmaceuticals actually gained 7 points in the image rating, not enough to overcome an overall negative image, but a solid gain nonetheless. Again, why? What has this industry done in the last year which would change its image in the public view?

    The only common connection I can think of is the corona monster which has totally disrupted our lives. Travel might be perceived as facilitating the spread of the virus, while pharmaceutical might be seen as trying to produce a cure.


    Whether this is true is debatable, but it does offer an explanation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Regarding travel, some may be upset that travel spreads the virus (what else is new); some may be upset that they are now limited from traveling.

      As to pharma, perhaps a reflection of the national prayer to this god, the savior.

      Delete
    2. TSA and post 911 travel good to be jumped through. All part and parcel of the travel industry.
      I remember when, in late night flights, I would stand at the cockpit's open door and talk with the crew.
      I love flying but now I hate commercial flying.I
      If I ever win the lottery (I guess I need to start buying tickets), the one aspect of my life that will definitely change is that I will travel using general aviation.

      Delete
  2. I'm certainly done with pro sports, except maybe golf (I think even golf has caved to the BLM commies). I think libertarians should appreciate golf more.

    * golfers generally behave with class, i.e are not getting arrested for beating their wives or getting suspended for having drug problems.
    * golf courses are privately funded and maintained.
    * It's a very individualistic and aristocratic sport.

    Avoid the government funded concrete colosseums of modern football, baseball, and basketball venues and go watch a pro golf tournament for much less money and have a walk outside in a well manicured garden.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The problem with pro sports is that the military cozied up to them years ago to get us to associate the military with sports. Now that politics has been combined with pro sports, pro sports clubs are used to communicate left wing politics from all angles, owners, coaches, players.

    The problem with college sports is strictly the players. Renegade profs have poisoned today's players about school tradition and history. I went to the University of Texas. The school because of player agitation has more or less abandoned its most important tradition, not just for sports but for the whole school, the singing of the song The Eyes Of Texas. Before 2020, this song was universally recognized as a means to build unity between all fans, alumni, and students. It has done nothing but build emotional connection for at least 100 years.

    Well now, it supposedly is about white supremacy. We used to sing the song win or lose after every game for every sport and after every other school ceremony of any type. After last night that seems to be over. They played the song after the first football game of the year as the two teams mingled on the field and then walked off. There was not even an acknowledgement that the song was played. I think school administration threaded the needle on appeasing alumni, but wow, it really left a vacuum in my gut.

    At this point I can't force myself not to watch on TV. But I won't buy another shirt or ticket unless they walk this all the way back. I won't give any of my money to them.

    ReplyDelete