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[quote user="tomikawaTT"]   <blockquote> <div><img src="/TRCCS/Themes/trc/images/icon-quote.gif" /> schlimm:</div> <div>   One, the survey is reputable by a primarily business group.  Two, the execs are from private corporations, not the government.  Three, it's the same in all countries, so it's a level playing field.  Or are you saying US corporate execs' opinions about infrastructure are more irrelevant or biased than those of execs in other countries about their respective nations?  Why would that be?  And don't you think it says a great deal if American business execs see the need to improve infrastructure (not just rail), even if you don't want to acknowledge that? <div style="clear:both;"></div>   </div> </blockquote>   In other words, it's an opinion poll. Note that many popular entertainers and sports figures are frequently asked their opinions about politics and international affairs.  Just how knowledgeable about the subject(s) are the people giving opinions?  For that matter, how much weight is given to the, "If I tell my honest opinion, I'll lose my job," factor. So `corporate executives' were asked for opinions.  Were the corporations actively engaged in the businesses asked about?  I'm sure that a Johnson Wax exec will be able to speak knowledgeably about rail service in a state where Johnson doesn't operate... My considered opinion is that opinion polls, unless supported by hard, verifiable statistics, aren't worth the paper they're printed on.  (As a statistician, I may be biased)  Chuck [/quote] I agree with your comment regarding opinion survey. As an Audit Director for a Fortune 250 corporation, as well as the chief auditor for one of the company's foreign subsidiaries, I reported to the CEO as well as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. In their moments of candor, usually after several glasses of wine, they told me that they believed they might understand two to five per cent of what was going on in the company.  Their views were shaped by key performance indicators, as well as information flowing up the organization. This latter information usually was scrubbed pretty thoroughly by the time they got it. Large organizations employ auditors (internal and external) to provide an independent information conduit to the CEO and audit committee.  The idea is that the auditors, who don't have a dog in the hunt, will give them good information.  It is a challenge. Figuring out what is going on in a large organization is a mind bending exercise.
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