The survey that no one will conduct on rearmament

The CountryThe newspaper dedicates its Monday front page to its own poll, which allows it to headline: "The majority of Spaniards support a European army and more defense spending." It's the classic ketchup poll, which seeks to force the public to swallow an unpopular measure—spending money on weapons of war—with the added bonus of making it seem like the majority of citizens support it. I don't doubt that those surveyed answered along the lines of the headline, but it's clear that the direction of the questions has a great capacity to favor one side or the other.

Therefore, on behalf of the public service that always guides and presides over this column—solemn background music—I offer the following questions, which could be included in the next survey seeking to put social grease on European rearmament, to see if the same data emerges. Do you think the world will be safer if several hundred million euros are invested in weapons? Rate on a scale from zero to ten how much you would be willing to dismantle, for the sake of defense, the following areas: healthcare, education, social services. Which measure would improve your life: a €4 billion investment to resolve the suburban rail chaos or the purchase of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets for an equivalent price? Are you willing to pay more taxes and earn less by raising the salaries of military personnel? How many Spanish soldiers would be acceptable if Poland had to be defended from a Russian invasion? Would you dedicate a year of your life to compulsory military service to become part of the reserve of a European army? Obviously, no one would ask such rude questions, but the suspicious reader will find that too often the formulations are as polished in form as they are poisoned in direction.