Regarding The Flap Over Confederate Statues

[Rev. Rye]

Then again, they point out that anyone around the world can vote in this poll, so it may not necessarily reflect the views of Charlottesville's residents at the time [...]

Yes, and it's exactly the same category error. If we wish to take the measure of local opinion, we'll need to access local opinion.

And at least I pointed out the limitations of that poll. I suspect that a proper poll limited to Charlottesville residents might exist, but it's likely been buried underneath all the rhetoric. And if a commission formed by the Charlottesville city council convinced them it would be a good idea, maybe it's less lopsided than it appears. I strongly suspect that a proper poll, if it exists, may really be hard to find if that poll (with all its acknowledged limitations) was the best I could do.

Then again, whether or not the larger populace really wanted it gone, the city council definitely voted against it, and, legally, it's much the same thing. Perhaps it's a limitation of representative democracy, or maybe it's representative democracy working the way it should.