So "more than half of the poll voters gave nuclear power the thumbs up".
I'm sure that a few centuries ago, more than half of those polled would give "the earth is flat" the thumbs up. It doesn't make nuclear power right or sensible. The fact that close to half give it the thumbs down should be a consideration, especially in the light of the hype in the media and the uranium selling lobby in favour of nuclear power.
Strangely, we hear nothing in the media about the uporoar in the U.K, where nobody wants to have the nuclear wastes, and so industry will not invest in new nuclear power unless the government (i.e. the taxpayer )commits to coping with the wastes. And nothing about the uproar in the U.S where they can’t store the wastes either.
I suggest that, in the light of the nuclear weapons frenzy – the only possibly safe countries will be those who don’t have nuclear weapons - given the new doctrine of pre-emptive strike. Christina Macpherson www.antinculearaustralia.com

Thankyou, Wayne. Those in your first post concern Canada – not of much interest to Australians, and the other site, partly in French, seems to indicate an opposition to nuclear power.

In you second post: 47% for 40% against, 13% presumably undecided. Not much in it, and we all know how fickle people are, and how the margins for error in polling are notoriously unreliable.

The Roy Morgan looks better, but were respondents told of near-ready technology which can knock all of the baddies out of coal? I notice that 87% of respondents are still concerned about the disposal of waste. Seems that there could be a lot of qualifications in their “yeses”.

We usual never find out what questions are actually asked, and how they are asked with polls.

Don’t look for any more on my behalf, Wayne. You have given me enough to show that what some politicians say (not that they really believe it, of course, especially if the polls are against them)- that the only important poll is the one at an election is true. I would put good money on the likelihood of the ‘ayes’ and ‘nays’ changing their minds as many times as they were asked. That’s why governments change the rules between elections.

Top marks for getting back, though. I admire your tenacity in the various subjects you are interested in.

"Thankyou, Wayne."
My pleasure Leigh.

"In you second post: 47% for 40% against, 13% presumably undecided. Not much in it,"
If that was an election result it would be called a landslide victory and we both know you singled out the least favourable one there. LOL.

"and we all know how fickle people are,"
And we all know thats the favourite answer given by those who don't like a poll result.

"and how the margins for error in polling are notoriously unreliable."
thats the second favourite response.

"The Roy Morgan looks better,"
Approve of nuclear (49%)
Disapprove of nuclear (37%)

Sure does!

"but were respondents told of near-ready technology which can knock all of the baddies out of coal?"
Not all. Cleaner isn't clean. Were they told that recycling waste gets rid of it? Were they told that nuclear desalination could help solve the water crisis?

"I notice that 87% of respondents are still concerned about the disposal of waste."
That's right. Imagine how much support will be boosted when they realise the waste can be recycled.

"We usual never find out what questions are actually asked, and how they are asked with polls."
Its all on the page.
http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2006/4032/

"Don’t look for any more on my behalf, Wayne."
Are you sure? It's no trouble.

"Top marks for getting back, though. I admire your tenacity in the various subjects you are interested in."
We are all tenacious at those various subjects we are interested in. The ones we find boring we only put up with. Either because its part of some mundane job.

I realise polls aren't perfect and can't be relied on. Most of the public are ignorant of most topics. I've never met anyone who knew everything about everything. Indeed poll results often conflict in the most illogical way because while people seem to know what they want they often don't understand the full ramifications of a certain choice.

That's the reason why we have Governments. Atleast it's supposed to be.

.