Charlie Martin brilliantly (and without malice) explains why polls are not helpful in this election

I will be the first to admit that, when it comes to math and science, I have . . . ah . . . issues, at least as to some subjects.  For example, you can talk to me about physics and aerodynamics all you want, but I know that the reasons planes fly is magic and prayer, neither of which are always reliable.  I also know that germs can leap of toilet seats and attack people within a five or ten foot vicinity.  You can tell me differently, but I won’t believe you.

As for polls, they’re the worst thing of all, a peculiar amalgam of statistics (confusing and evil), math (confusing and evil), guesstimates (just evil), and all sorts of other stuff.  Add in my distrust for many of the media and polling organizations involved in the whole poll thing and I’m pretty much going to discount the polls.

What Charlie does is explain why the polls are of dubious value this year, but it’s not because of evil or bias.  It’s because this presidential election year is a presidential election year different from all others.  Even with the best will in the world, polling organizations are facing unexpected hurdles that may destroy (or, at least, substantially devalue) their polls’ utility.  Best of all, Charlie explains it all in terms even a magical thinker (that would be me) can understand.