I do not know, but my point was not about having abortions but about opinions about abortions. These can be quite diffewrent things, as a number of people following this thread have pointed out. I may add my oqn anecdote as well. A few years ago, a bunch of prolifers in MD called for a referendum on to restrict access to abortion (Question 6). Ther decision was based, in part, on poll results showing majority of respondents favouring some restrictions on abortion. Well, their Question 6 was defeated by the marging 2:1. Apparently, it is one thing to respond to a survey and a different thing to vote on an issue.
I personally do not have much faith in opinion polls. They usually reflect what some sociologists call "stock knowledge" and what I termed "canned food for thought" - a set of ready-made opinions formed by the media, the pulpit, hear say etc. When asked, especially on an issue they do not see as immediately relevant, or in a way that does not relate to their own thinking - these people will basically respond with those 'canned phrases."
It takes much more than a survey to find out what people really think on an issue. That is why, BTW, focus groups are so popular nowadays.
The only reason I showed the numbers from the WVS was that they allowed comparing opinions in different countries and different groups. Again, the point I tried to make was that this is what working class people tend to think - and we have address that if we wnat to win their 'hearts and minds' for our cause.
Regards,
WS
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