If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003.

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Most Recent Releases

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June 8, 2010

74% Oppose Taxing Internet News Sites To Help Newspapers

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering several ways to help the struggling newspaper industry, but Americans strongly reject several proposed taxes to keep privately-owned newspapers going.

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May 27, 2010

80% Favor Auditing the Federal Reserve

Eighty percent (80%) of Americans now agree with Congress that auditing the Federal Reserve Board is a good idea, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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May 27, 2010

46% Oppose More Government Regulation of Financial System, 37% Favor

Forty-six percent (46%) of Americans oppose more government regulation of the U.S. financial system as Congress pushes through such legislation in hopes of having it for President Obama to sign into law by July 4.

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May 19, 2010

49% Say Bush Chiefly To Blame for Big Deficit, 43% Blame Obama

Americans overwhelmingly view the federal budget deficit as a major problem, and they blame President Bush and President Obama – and their respective parties - almost equally for the size of it. Most also believe the Bush Administration increased federal spending too much.

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May 18, 2010

70% Say Women in America Better Off Today Than 25 Years Ago

Most adults believe women in America are better off today than they were 25 years ago, but they still don’t think women receive equal pay for equal work.

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May 10, 2010

79% Worry Europe’s Economic Crisis Will Cause Problems for U.S.

While Europe struggles to keep Greece’s battered economy from dragging down other nations on the continent, 79% of Americans are at least somewhat concerned that Europe’s financial crisis will cause economic problems in the United States. That includes 38% who are Very Concerned.

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May 8, 2010

42% Say United-Continental Merger Will Increase Airline Prices

United Airlines and Continental Airlines have announced a $3 billion merger that will form the world’s largest airline with the ability to carry nearly 150 million passengers a year. But 42% of Americans nationwide believe the merger will result in higher airline prices.

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May 5, 2010

37% Say Economy Will Be Stronger A Year From Now, 37% Say Weaker

Adults still have mixed feelings about the state of the economy a year from today, but confidence in the economy's long-range prospects is at its lowest level in over a year.

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April 23, 2010

60% Say Capitalism Better Than Socialism

Sixty percent (60%) of U.S. adults nationwide say that capitalism is better than socialism. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 18% disagree, while 21% are not sure.

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April 22, 2010

Just 32% Confident Policymakers Know What They’re Doing About the Economy

President Obama and congressional Democrats are pushing plans for greater regulation of the U.S. financial industry, but Americans are less confident than ever that the nation’s policymakers know what they’re doing when it comes to dealing with Wall Street.

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April 21, 2010

73% Say It’s Likely Goldman Sachs Committed Fraud

The federal Securities and Exchange Commission is suing Wall Street mega-firm Goldman Sachs for fraud, and most Americans are pretty convinced they’re guilty. But Americans are evenly divided about whether the timing of the suit was based upon concerns about fraud or a desire to help the Obama administration politically.

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April 20, 2010

54% Lack Confidence in U.S. Banking System

Just 42% of Americans express confidence in the stability of the U.S. banking system, but most aren’t worried that they’ll lose their own money because of a bank failure. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 54% lack confidence in the U.S. banking system.

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April 9, 2010

53% Oppose FCC Regulation of the Internet

Just 27% of Americans now believe the Federal Communications Commission should regulate the Internet like it does television and radio.

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March 4, 2010

58% Support Postal Service’s Plan To End Saturday Delivery

The U.S. Postal Service hopes to end Saturday mail delivery to fight its growing budget deficit, and 58% of Americans think that’s a good idea.

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March 4, 2010

Just 48% Say It’s Possible for Anyone To Work Their Way Out of Poverty

Americans place little store in the value of hard work these days.

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March 2, 2010

Confidence In Economy's Future Is At Lowest Point of Obama's Presidency

Views of the country's short- and long-term economic future are gloomier these days than they have been at any time since President Obama took office in January of last year.

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March 1, 2010

58% Say Economy Causing More Family Stress

Most Americans (58%) say the current state of the U.S. economy has caused more stress in their family, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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February 26, 2010

34% Favor More Regulation of Financial System, 47% Opposed

Americans are looking a little more favorably on further government regulation of the U.S. financial system as Capitol Hill lawmakers put the final touches on legislation aimed at avoiding another Wall Street meltdown.

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February 22, 2010

76% Say Fed Is Likely To Raise Other Interest Rates This Year

The Federal Reserve Board’s decision last week to raise the interest rate it charges banks for short-term loans has most Americans now expecting other rate increases this year.

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February 20, 2010

51% Think Business Leaders Make Better Economic Decisions Than Government Officials

Most Americans continue to have more confidence in the economic decisions of the business community than in those of government.