Ha ha!
Here's todays winner for the most egregious extrapoloation quoted in the popular press:
Sunday Times, 10 Jul 2005:
... Almost two thirds of Americans don't know their national anthem. In a recent survey of 2000 people, 61% admitted they didn't know all the words to "The Star Spangled Banner" ...
2000 is a representative sample of 300 million? How were these 2000 chosen? Etc, etc.
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I lived in US for 5 years, and I know less than 10 words from the anthem. It's a pretty long song. I try to sing it once, and "Oh Canada..." came out of nowhere.
Most stats choose their sample based on multiple factors like income, ethnicity, age. A scientificly acquired stat should be well over 90% accurate. At least that's what my stat teacher said.