NEW WEB SITE TAKES THE "PULSE OF AMERICA" ON GOING TO WAR

The 10-question survey currently on the new site relates to the potential war on Iraq, dealing with terrorism and the current state of civil liberties.

(PRWEB) March 1, 2003 -- Pasadena, CA - A new web site called "The Pulse Of America" http://www.ThePulseOfAmerica.us/), which promises to elicit American opinion on hot button issues such as the potential war with Iraq was unveiled today in Pasadena by Keith Shirey, Professor Emeritus Political Science and anti-war, anti-Bush pinback button designer.

"We're launching the new polling web site today to literally take the pulse of Americans on current issues," explained Shirey. "The Pulse Of America" is devoted to asking startling, provocative questions related to the issues of the day."

Today's survey consists of 10 questions all related to war on Iraq, the current state of civil liberties and dealing with the "War on Terrorism." Shirey, who is no stranger to political controversy says he expects the web site to be controversial, because many of the direct questions are not found in most similar surveys.

Some of today's questions at www.ThePulseOfAmerica.us/ include: How important, if at all, do you think it is for the government to monitor and control the media during this time of the war on terrorism? The options given in the survey are, a) Very important, b) Somewhat important, and c) Not important at all.

"If the U.S. goes to war with Iraq, which of your offspring are you willing to send? The options given in the survey are, " a) None, b) My sons but not my daughters, c) My daughters but not my sons and d) Both my sons and my daughters."

Other questions include: "If the U.S. goes to war with Iraq, how many deaths of Iraqi civilians, including babies, children and women, would you tolerate in order to disarm Saddam Hussein and/or achieve "regime change?" Do you think that the U.S. government has obtained sufficient facts to prove that Saddam Hussein poses an immediate danger to the American people and to justify a military attack on Iraq? During these dangerous times when the U.S. is fighting terrorism some have suggested that it be made a crime to publish any "false, scandalous and malicious" writing against the government, the Congress or the President. How do you react to this suggestion?"

"There are other polls out there, sourced by larger organizations with a track record, and less opinionated than mine,' explained Shirey. "But many of them never get down to asking fundamentally important tough questions." Additionally, the retired political science professor says in taking accurate surveys he is also interested in forcing respondents to deal with "gut wrenching" issues like whether they would send their own sons and daughters to fight in Iraq.

"I want people to think, to have to deal with what is really real. It's possible for a poll to do that and also to take the pulse of the American people," he said. Shirey, who is self-described, "left winger and proud as hell to be one," says he is making every effort to bring conservative people onto his site to participate in the polls. He has contacted the web masters of numerous "right wing web sites with chat rooms and bulletin boards"² for that purpose. Shirey has also sent out news releases to more than 300 wire services, political and media outlets in an effort to achieve an across the political spectrum representation in the surveys.

"If my web site becomes a battleground between pro and anti war people, civil libertarians and their opponents I'll be pleased," Shirey said. "These hard-hitting questions in the polls, which should evoke a strong response from anybody who is not a vegetable, are my version of a war on political apathy."

On the final page of the site, under the category "Action" is a long list of other web sites devoted to anti-war and domestic repression issues. Shirey also sells anti-war and other politically sensitive buttons on another site he launched last year at: www.BuyButtons.com.

[Editor's note: For digital photos or interviews with Keith Shirey call George McQuade
at 818.340.5300 or 818/618.9229. More information at: http://www.ThePulseOfAmerica.us/)