Intermittent Empty return

I'm new to Postgres.  I'm trying to select data from my survey_results 
table.   My server is running Postgres 7.3.4.   I log in as root (its 
RH), then
psql database_name.   Its says "Welcome..... ". I then type "SELECT * 
from survey_results" and hit enter. Nothing!  It just goes back to the 
database_name prompt.

Its like there is no data in the table and I know its there.  I can see 
it in the Cold Fusion admin screen and I've seen it before in sql. \du 
reflects root being a superuser.\dp survey_results says root has arwdRxt 
access privileges.  It just seems that 95% of time I get nothing back.   
Even if I type "SELECT * from trash", It returns nothing and I can't 
find any table called trash.

I've searched the list archives but haven't found any solution to my 
problem.
Can anyone suggest a fix?

John