Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site water.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!water!jbtubman From: jbtubman@water.UUCP (Jim Tubman) Newsgroups: can.politics Subject: Public Awareness Message-ID: <178@water.UUCP> Date: Fri, 14-Dec-84 15:02:26 EST Article-I.D.: water.178 Posted: Fri Dec 14 15:02:26 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 15-Dec-84 00:30:41 EST Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 28 I heard an interesting bit of information today on the CBC radio news. Apparently some sort of general knowledge test was given to community college students in Manitoba. The exact figures escape me, but it showed that only a minority of the students tested (something like 40%) knew that the NDP was in power in Manitoba; a large number said the Conservatives were, and six percent (I remember this one) said that the Liberals formed the Manitoba government (the Liberals hold no seats in the Manitoba legislature). In the realm of Art, not many knew that the Group of Seven were Canadian painters -- some said that they were the presidents of the major banks, while others thought that the Group of Seven were members of the FLQ. If someone else comes across the correct figures, could you post them? I see no reason to believe that Manitobans, or even community college students, are any less intelligent or informed than the average person. This has interesting (and perhaps disturbing) implications for those who advocate that political or moral or economic questions should be decided on the basis of polls. Please note that I am not advocating ignoring what the majority of the people say, either. Any comments? Jim Tubman University of Waterloo