They embrace the meaning, essence and implication of the term in letter and spirit at different times during its evolution and thus impart its true logical understanding, especially in context with American public opinion. However, I will dwell on all of these definitions at some length and opine on each of them.

Public opinion is an aggregation of individual opinions. Based on the most fundamental logic that a whole is made up of many parts, this single- liner ideally embodies the basic constitution of public opinion. The term, as a collective representation of the vast societal mass of the various strata, came into being in the eighteenth century colonial era. It was a time when much of the western world, particularly the Americas, was colonized by Spanish, British, French and other powers. Bearing this in mind, it became necessary to define the privileges and responsibilities of the rulers on one hand, and the rights – both moral and legislative, of those being ruled. It goes to the credit of Adam Smith and Jeremy Bentham through their pioneering efforts, created a sense of awareness amongst the masses that their opinion, public opinion, “had the power to ensure that rulers would rule for the greatest happiness of the greater number”. Thus, the concept of public opinion as a tool of shaping responsible and responsive governors and a vibrant and constructive society was born.

Public opinion is a reflection of majority beliefs. Indeed, this definition suits us well to understand the transcendence of the concept of public opinion from the colonial times to the contemporary capitalist western world.

If the ghosts of Smith and Bentham were to revisit this world, particularly a mega polis like NYC, they would be astounded, even dumbfounded, to see the sweeping changes that their theory of public opinion has undergone while they were away. From its simplistic and idealistic original avatar, the concept has been transformed into a highly complex influential force that dictates every motive, every judgement and every act of any person or institution. From a mere concept, public opinion has become the major and often the only driving force behind the functioning of whole nations and governments. Every US citizen today knows that s/he, as a member of the public, possesses vast powers, which, if exercised collectively, can make or break governments. Americans have never been so informed, enlightened and opinionated as in the present, and they know the worth and might of their opinion.

Public opinion is found in the clash of interest groups. This definition is based on the interpretation of the subject by Herbert Blumer, a renowned American sociologist. He propagated the understanding of public opinion as collective behavior, by which he meant a group of people who discuss and decide a course of action to be taken on any given issue. This group disintegrates once its function is fulfilled. Hence, the Blumerian concept of public opinion is essentially “modular” in nature, it can assemble and dissemble as and when needed. It does not include the opinion of the vast majority of individuals in its folds as in the previous definition, but advances the opinion of peer groups as a collective public opinion.

Public opinion is media and elite opinion. This is a vital issue and a subject of animated discussions on where the line should be drawn regarding media’s (both physical and virtual) and other interest group’s crafty manipulation of the public’s mindsets and suave but sinister efforts to occupy its mind space to derive maximum mileage for their interests. The third and fourth generation technology that is applied to gauge, often fabricate, the metrics of public opinion by the media and other power groups like socialites, businessmen, politicians have many variants like opinion polls, snap polls, surveys, etc., results of which are often tailored to suit their length of ambition and aspiration. In this maze of ultra-tech sophistication and expert jargonising of vested interests, the gullible mindset of at least some people is influenced and/or corrupted. But this definition is only partially applicable. Besides, the highly literate and knowledgeable American public can be swayed only to a certain degree, if at all. Or else, there would be no nasty surprises for the politicians and pollsters alike, and history is not totally on their side.