Why do we poll Americans?

What I gather from this is that people think defense spending is too high when things are going OK and that it is waaay too low right after bad shit happens (Iran Hostage Crisis, 9/11). Whatever your opinions on defense spending, that just makes no sense. If "the public" thinks it's too low right after bad things happen, then presumably they think that the lack of spending contributed to the bad things in the first place. Americans, as a polling unit, have the attention span of a gnat. I could give a rat's ass what they think is too much or too little. It would be nice if people who actually have the knowledge and experience to say anything worthwhile on the subject would do so and ignore polls. Ugh.

UNC System Budget Cuts

Under the possible 7% UNC System budget reduction, here are proposed reductions to some of the schools. (Keep in mind that these proposed reductions are meant to sound horrible and untenable...if there is a 7% budget cut, other things will probably go instead.)

UNC:
Eliminate 267 positions, including 107 faculty positions
372 courses not offered. Reduction in enrollment of 3400 students
Reduction of housecleaning

UNCG:
Eliminate 109 positions, including 59 faculty positions
Reduction of 275 class sections, totaling about 7500 class seats
Limiting advising and tutoring