Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Opinion Polls Do Not Determine Policy

The recent noise about the so-called "mosque" two blocks from "ground zero" has an entire host of problems, but for the sake of brevity I'd like to hone in on one error in reasoning: the ad populum argument.

Over and over again, we hear opponents of the "mosque" say various versions of the following argument:

"Two-thirds of Americans/New Yorkers, etc. are opposed to the mosque being built near ground zero. We should not allow it to be built there."]

So what if two-thirds of people disagree with something? Even if the poll showed 99% of the population disagreed, it changes nothing: Muslims have every right to build a community center, containing a mosque, on the private property that they purchased. Period. It's that simple. Arguing based on "public opinion" has no validity whatsoever.

Since when does public opinion matter about guaranteed Constitutional rights? Do these opponents believe in the Constitution or not?

The entire point of most of the Bill of Rights was precisely to protect minority groups from the wrong-headedness of the majority. In this case, Islamophobia is being used to gain votes. Simple.

Let's not allow such fallacious arguments to influence our policy, our voting behavior, or our attitudes towards others.