Poll Results - Got Sick
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Hey! There’s a new poll on the Right [Read about the water projects here] —–>Have you ever got sick from drinking water?
Yes 41% 40
No 46% 45
Dead… sorry 
12% 12
97 votes total
So this poll got a lot of activity (even the dead participated!), and the thing I was interested to see (and pleased to find out) was the share of people who have gotten sick off of water.* If we include the dead, a majority of people have. 
Now consider that most of us have time to read a blog. That means (to me) that we are probably relatively well-off. For people who are less well-off, the likelihood of getting sick from water is probably higher, so let’s say this result is a lower bound.
Next, given that a majority of humans have gotten sick from water, you’d see the importance we put on water quality. Water quality is far more salient to me than, say bread or boat or battery quality because I have very little experience with bad quality (i.e., make me sick or put me at risk) from these items.
OTOH, those who have NOT gotten sick from water may be either lucky or so careful [don’t go to Country X!] that they’ve avoided water problems.
I wonder which group actually cares more about clean water? Those who’ve had dirty water and survived or those who have not?
Please comment on any of these ideas or give your own.
Bottom Line: We know that water can make us sick, but we know that we need it to live. Those two forces characterize our unique relationship with water.
* There was some dismay that someone who got sick from something else may have blamed the water, but we’re interested in perceptions here.
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