People read the papers not in the hopes of learning something new, but in the expectation of being told what they already know. This is a form of living death. Its apotheosis is the daily poll in USA Today, which informs us what percentage of a small number of unscientifically selected people called a toll number to vote on questions that cannot possibly be responded to with a yes or no.

Summary

This quote suggests that people often read newspapers not to gain new knowledge or insights but rather to seek reassurance or validation of their existing beliefs and opinions. By doing so, it implies that they are closing themselves off from new ideas and experiences, effectively living in a stagnant state of mind. The quote further criticizes the practice of using unscientific polls, such as those found in USA Today, to inform public opinion, highlighting the limitations and simplistic nature of such approaches.

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