I like to think of myself as a well-informed citizen. Wife Carol, has a better term for me: political junkie.

And she’s right. I am a political junkie. Always have been. Always will be. I love our democracy and the craziness that ensues.

Carol complains that all I watch on TV are boring documentaries and those talking-head shows. I hear her tell her friends on the phone that I’m in the living room watching a three-hour History Channel special on wheat production in Bolivia. Or, I’m watching a discussion on CSPAN about the socio-economic importance of buttons. For the record, I have never watched either of those –-although the button thing does sounds interesting.

While I do plead guilty to watching too many political shows, my great enabler these days is the Internet. Every morning, right out of bed, I check out the right-wing Drudge Report and the left-wing Huffington Post. I read Ohio.com (Akron Beacon Journal) and Cleveland.com (Cleveland Plain Dealer). I check the MSNBC website, CNN, New York Times, ABC, CBS, Reuters, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. All of these sites are book-marked on my homepage.

And I check these sites again and again all day long. I even have a BREAKING NEWS box on my home page that immediately alerts me to anything important.

I also check the Rasmussen and Zogby polls to see if the rest of the country is waking up and finally seeing things my way. It was while checking Zogby the other day that I ran across a new survey on America’s reading and book-buying habits.

The poll, conducted by Zogby for Random House, found that the vast majority of readers still like to read the old-fashioned way - - 82% said they prefer to curl up with a printed book rather than use one of those new-fangled reading machines. Gender-wise, 85% of women prefer reading printed books, compared to 79% of men. Reading printed books also has greater appeal among older folks, although it is by far the preferred method among all age groups.

Just 11% said they are comfortable reading books in other formats, such as online or with an e-book reader or PDA (personal digital assistant). Don’t worry, I didn’t know what it stood for either.

The survey found that most readers go to a bookstore knowing exactly what they’re looking for - - 43% said they do this somewhat often, while nearly as many — 38%– very often head to a bookstore with a particular book in mind.

Says the report: “But just because they’re focused on a certain book, most admit they’re likely to be tempted by other books once at a store — 77% said that when they go into a bookstore for a specific book, they sometimes make additional, unplanned book purchases.”

For nearly half (48%) the first thing that draws them to a book while browsing in a bookstore is the subject, followed by the author (24%) and the book’s title (11%).

What influences readers?

Sixty percent said suggestions from friends and family members, while 49% said they are influenced by book reviews.

More than half (52%) admit to judging a book by its cover. (This is why Casey sells so damn many.)

Younger readers are more likely to acknowledge a book’s cover influences their opinion. Sixty-six percent of those younger than 30 said they judge a book by its cover, compared to just 34% of those age 65 and older. (Don’s readers.)

Says the report: “More than a third (35%) said they have purchased a book because of a quote from another author. When they find a book they like, the vast majority (89%) said they make a special effort to look for other books by the same author. Women (92%) are more likely than men (86%) to seek out books by authors they already enjoy.

Among other findings in the Zogby/Random House poll:

Most typically read just one book at a time, but a sizable 40% said they usually are reading between two and four books at once. Another 3% said they generally read more than four books at one time. (Jeff’s crowd.)

While 19% said they borrow most of the books they read from the library, the vast majority of Americans (78%) said they own most of the books they read. And while 71% are quick to loan books to friends, just 32% said they are in the habit of borrowing books from friends.

As for “bad reading habits” — 35% admit to folding over the pages, 13% admit that they have neglected to return a library book. (Judy’s crowd.)

Two in three respondents (68%) said they typically read a book just once, but 18% said they usually go back for a second read and 10% read a book three times or more.

Once a book has been read, most respondents said it goes back on their shelf at home (57%), but others are more likely part ways once they finish — 20% usually pass books on to a friend or family member, while 14% give them away and just 3% said they typically sell their books once done reading them.

When asked what type of book would best represent their life, 20% said it would be humor, while 16% said satire and 13% said their life would be an inspirational book. (Zorro said a coloring book.)

The survey also shows respondents are more likely to purchase books for themselves than for family members or as gifts. Says the survey: “On average, 39% of respondents said they purchase between one and five books per year for themselves, while 26% buy between six and 10, 14% between 11 and 15 — 22% buy 16 or more books per year for themselves.

When it comes to purchasing books for family members, 51% said they buy one to five books per year, 23% six to 10 and 9% buy 11 to 15 — 18% buy 16 or more books per year for family members. Nearly three in four (73%) respondents said they typically purchase between one and five books per year as gifts, 19% buy six to 10 books as gifts and 4% buy 11 to 15 — just 4% said they buy 16 or more books as gifts per year.

And where are people buying books these days?

While most purchase books online (77%) or at chain bookstores (76%), nearly half (49%) said they also purchase books at independent bookstores. Others said they purchase books at other locations, including the airport (39%), big box retailers (29%), warehouse clubs (27%), supermarkets (25%) and drug stores (16%).

Not surprising, the 18 to 24 crowd is more likely than older respondents to say they purchase books online and at chain bookstores. But they re also more likely to buy books at independent bookstores (54%), compared to 41% of `those age 65 and older.

Now the biggie – are people reading more or less these days?

Says the report: “While 46% of respondents said they have spent about the same amount of time as usual reading in the past year, 23% are spending more time reading — and 30% said they are reading less than usual. Nearly two-thirds of those who are reading less (65%) said they are spending more time online, while 37% are spending more time watching television or movies and 18% are devoting more time to playing computer and video games.”

The poll also found that 98% of all Americans are reading less because they are busy writing books. Just kidding. I made that up. It’s actually more like 87%.

While you digest all of this, let this old political junkie remind you that public opinion polls are just a snapshot in time and have a 3 to 4% margin or error.

Also keep in mind that Zogby – prestigious though it is – regularly under-reports the obvious popularity of my favorite candidates. So I’d take anything they report with a grain of salt.

Anyhoo, you guys will have to discuss all this without me. CSPAN is rerunning that button thing today.