Do Statistics and Polls really work?

There was a question on the radio about how the media and Polls minimize the potential political knowledge of Sarah Palin. Rush Limbaugh answered that Polls do not really give a good answer. Statistics are formulated by a mathematical criteria and a social criteria. Therefore, they will change. Therefore, they do not really say the God-Shining Truth. So, let us go back to the question: Do they really work?