WSJ-NBC Poll: Making the False Case for Tax Increases | William Poole | Cato Institute: Commentary

WSJ-NBC Poll: Making the False Case for Tax Increases | William Poole | Cato Institute: Commentary: "The problem is that respondents were not forced to select some way to solve the problem."

"Perhaps the question might be, 'Should tax rates on upper-income families be increased even though doing so might lead small businesses to hire fewer workers?' We can ask economists to study the effects on employment of upper-bracket increases, but without the second part of the question, most respondents who are not in the upper brackets will, of course, favor taxing someone else if there is no cost to them."

"here is another poll question: 'Should retirees accept modest reductions in their current benefits or should the entire burden of these benefits be borne by their children and grandchildren in the form of higher taxes?'"

"Polls like the Wall Street Journal-NBC poll are meant to illuminate public attitudes toward many topics. When it comes to budgetary issues, questions should always include options that address the budget problem. There is no free lunch.

Is it too much to ask that poll designers understand that 'both' is not an admissible answer?"