Well...
Does anyone besides me think polls are a bad idea?
...if used the way they have grown to be; in lieu of news, then, yes, they are a bad idea.
If used honestly, well, like this:
Tonight on CNN:
X people think this.
Y people think that.
X plus Y people think polls are a stupid way to do the news.
...then I'd be OK with them!
I mean, the best one going (meaning the worst) is 'approval' polls.
Q: Do you approve of the job Z is doing?
A: No.
What's that mean? He should do MORE of what he is doing? Less? You'll never approve? You'll vote for him anyway? You'll vote for him if...?
Approval polls are usually used to try and say "The dis-approval means..." whatever it is that the expert guest of the moment is trying to say.
It's lazy journalism and their use is based on the misconception that we are a democracy. I also think the hyper use of polls by todays media are a large reason so many don't care.
Of course, we could do a poll to test that...