Popular opinion means something in a democracy.

[Minstrel Boy]

What does it mean in America?

Will unpopularity reign in the NSA?
Will it end the occupation of Iraq?
Will it prevent the strike on Iran?

71% is just a focus group.

[valerief]

1. It's meant shit for the past two coups, I mean, elections. n/t

[neoblues]

2. A Democracy also..

Has some mechanism for changing the elected/selected leadership every so often. Encumbent Congressmen have something like a 98% probability of retaining their offices. Republicans of all stripes have been mysteriously winning by anywhere from 5 to 15 points above pre-election polls, likewise the exit polls. In other words, it's a certainty we no longer have honest elections.

So, the People's opinion not counting: strike one. Inability to actually carry out a change of representation/leadership: strike two (and possibly more). What's strike three?

What we have here is either pseudo/virtual Democracy or merely, in reality, a Democratic Illusion to an increasing degree.

[uppityperson]

3. It means something ONLY if there is action resulting.