Poll Asks Who Would Die to Defend America
Are the pollsters at J. L. Partners as weak-willed and demoralized as most Democrats they contacted in a recent poll for DailyMail.com?
The poll asked 1,000 likely American voters to respond to the following proposition:
“Assume there is an invasion of America by another country and they were on the brink of victory. You can either almost certainly die fighting for your country, or surrender and survive. What would you do?”
As one might expect, only 46% of Democrats opted to fight, compared to 66% of Independents and 80% of Republicans. Younger people, women, and those not of European or Hispanic ancestry were the least likely to say “fight,” and were most likely to say they would rather live in California than Florida.
“Surrender” was the option for only 7% of Republicans, presumably the kind who call themselves “Republicans,” but who are aligned with Democrats on most issues that real Republicans consider important.
But, never mind that. The pollsters’ proposition is flawed.
Maybe, but not necessarily, the part about being invaded. If America’s military capabilities continue to decline because defense budget money is spent imprudently, we deplete our weapons in Ukraine and don’t upgrade our nuclear capabilities, and the Marxist policies of the Biden administration and its fellow travelers in the Department of Defense and general/flag officer ranks further erode the quality and ethos of our military and naval personnel, being invaded may be a far-fetched idea, just not quite as far-fetched as in days gone by.
But why the assumption about “dying?” Why not ask the 1,000 voters whether they would “fight or surrender?”
Yes, you might die if you fought, but if you fought smartly, you would have the satisfaction of having killed some of your enemies on your way out, as at The Alamo and Thermopylae. And if you were smart and lucky, you might have the satisfaction of surviving and standing on your would-have-been oppressors’ mass grave.
Lt. Gen. George S. Patton is famous for having said that the great object in battle is not to die for your country, but to make the other fellow die for his. And Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe, assistant commander of 101st Airborne Division soldiers surrounded by the Nazis at Bastogne, is remembered for his response to the Germans’ surrender demand: “Nuts.”
But better known among Americans are sayings steeped in the demoralization, defeatism, and character weakness that may explain the pollsters’ premise:
“He died with his boots on.” Translation: He lost to the guy who stayed alive with his boots on.
“They can take my gun when they pry it from my cold, dead hands.” With that attitude, you’re defeated before you start.
The poll question rephrased
If the poll wanted to assume “dying” as one of its choices, its question should have read:
“You can fight for your country, or surrender and be murdered.”
That’s because any country that would invade ours militarily would be a leftist dictatorship, and leftist dictatorships typically murder their conservative, middle class, and Christian opponents.
On the other hand, maybe that’s why most Democrats would surrender. Why would they fight invaders who share their worldview?
© 2023 Mark Overstreet