Here’s a new way to get people to answer a public-opinion poll: Promise them a free cruise to the Bahamas.

This morning, I got a robocall from an unidentified public-opinion pollster. After the voice told me that I had been “very carefully selected” to participate in this poll, he said that, if I answered the questions, I’d get two tickets for a free cruise to the Bahamas, paid for by “one of our sponsors.” How could I resist, right? Hoping to find out who that generous sponsor is, I pressed 1 and took the poll:

Roboquestion 1: What is the most important thing we need to do to restore America’s economic growth? Create more jobs? Institute a flat tax? Reduce the size of government? None of the above? [This question sort of tipped their hand. Let’s see, who would propose a flat tax as a way of restoring America’s economy?]

Roboquestion 2: Which party are you most likely to vote for in November? Democrat? Republican? Independent? Don’t plan to vote? [Well, at least they didn’t cut me off when I clicked on Democrat.]

Roboquestion 3: Overall, do you approve or disapprove of President Obama’s job as president?

Just three questions, and then I get a trip to the Bahamas? Wow, that was easy. Now, all I had to do was to press 1 to connect with an operator who would “arrange my tickets.”  I could almost hear the steel drums playing as I hit #1 on my telephone keypad. Press. Wait. Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Busy signal. Disconnect. And…scene.

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