Ask a stupid question and you get a stupid answer but only the Democrats would then try to turn that answer into policy.
Your correspondent faces a dilemma every time he steps behind that curtain in the polling booth with a blank ballot in hand. The usual choice is between a range of publicity-hungry loonies, the mouthpieces of established interests and the Democrats. Next time, however, the Democrats go into the loony category.
Here is an example of a stupid question. Would you like the Government to give you money for nothing, no strings attached, just the straight loot, end of story?
Well, surprise, surprise, an 80 per cent Yes response plus instant identification of that 20 per cent of the population that we can refer immediately to the psychology department of the University of Hong Kong for some interesting case studies.
Your correspondent does not know quite how the Democrats phrased the question but, as almost 80 per cent of 593 people interviewed last week answered it by saying that the Government should assist homeowners with negative equity, it must have been a triumph of statistical enquiry.
Step aside, Mr Orwell. You had the gender wrong when worrying about the future. It is not Big Daddy as government. It is Big Mommy. Has someone out there on the playground been nasty to you, poor tootsie? Oh, what a shame, come home and tell Mommy all about it and she will set things right. There you go.