“The force of public opinion cannot be resisted, when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary, to keep the waters pure.” —Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Marquis de Lafayette, November 4, 1823 With which statement would Jefferson most likely agree?

The term public opinion is widely misunderstood and, therefore misapplied, by most

people.

The “public” holds competing opinions on almost every issue in American politics.

The results of public opinion polls should be kept secret until all the votes have been

cast in an election.

The expression of public opinion, whether through protests, editorials, or votes, should

be welcomed