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June 26, 2014

33% Say Government Should Forgive Student Loans After A Certain Period of Time

President Obama recently announced that he will use his executive power to expand debt relief programs for those with student loans, including loan forgiveness after 10 or 20 years in the workforce. Americans are only slightly more supportive of forgiving loans after a given period of time than they are of forgiving all student loans, and most say lowering tuition costs would do more for college students than making loans easier to access.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 21% of American Adults think the federal government should forgive all student loans. This finding is unchanged in surveys going to back to 2011. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of adults think the federal government should not forgive all students loans, also in line with findings from 2011. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here).

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 23-24, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 25, 2014

54% Say There’s Too Much Emphasis on Standardized Testing in Schools

Americans continue to believe standardized testing should not be the chief measure of how well a school is performing. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of American Adults think schools place too much emphasis on standardized testing these days. That's up five points from 49% in November. Only 17% don’t think schools place enough emphasis on standardized testing, while just as many (15%) think the level of emphasis is about right. Another 14% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 21-22, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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June 24, 2014

60% Don’t Think Washington Redskins Should Change Their Name

The Washington Redskins professional football team is under growing pressure from Native American activists and politicians from President Obama on down to change its name. Last week, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in a two-to-one vote canceled the team’s trademark on the grounds that it is “disparaging to Native Americans.” But most Americans nationwide agree with the team's owner Daniel Snyder that a name change is not necessary, and those who follow pro football the most are even more opposed.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 26% of American Adults believe the Washington Redskins should change their name in light of complaints that it is offensive. Sixty percent (60%) don’t think the team should change its name. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 19-20, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 22, 2014

Most Still Think Soccer Has A Long Way To Go in U.S.

While nearly eight million people tuned into Monday’s U.S. vs. Ghana World Cup match, Americans do not think soccer will reach the level of popularity it has around the world any time soon in this country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% of American Adults think that, in five years, soccer will be as popular in the United States as it is around the world. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say soccer will not reach the same heights of popularity in America in that time period. Twenty-one percent (21%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 17-18, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 19, 2014

39% Will Watch World Cup This Year

Most Americans do not plan on watching the World Cup soccer championships again this year, but if the U.S. team is able to advance to the finals, a majority says it will tune in.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone finds that 39% of American Adults will watch the World Cup this year, the highest level of interest to date. More than half (53%) do not plan on watching the international soccer tournament. Eight percent (8%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 17-18, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 15, 2014

68% Consider Fatherhood A Man’s Most Important Role

Father’s Day ranks lower than ever in terms of importance to Americans, but most still agree on the importance of fatherhood itself.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 10% of American Adults consider Father’s Day one of America’s most important holidays. Twenty-six percent (26%) rate it as one of the least important holidays, while 61% place it somewhere in between the two. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 9-10, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 13, 2014

Most Think School Children Should Honor the Flag Every Day

Most Americans say their families regularly display the U.S. flag on holidays, and even more believe children should honor the flag every morning in school. They also think school children should say the Pledge of Allegiance each day, including the phrase that America is one nation "under God."

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of American Adults say they or someone in their family displays the flag on most national holidays, up from 56% in August of last year Thirty-six percent (36%) do not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 7-8, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 12, 2014

78% Want to Keep ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ As National Anthem

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and Americans remain intensely loyal to the song that's been our official national anthem since 1931.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 90% of American Adults say they know the words to the anthem, and only 14% think it’s too hard to sing. Seventy-seven percent (77%) don’t think it’s too difficult. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 7-8, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 10, 2014

85% Express Major Privacy Concerns About Google Glass

Google Glass, a wearable computer with optical head-mounted display, became available to the public on May 15, and Americans overwhelmingly expect these computers to routinely violate the privacy of others.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveys finds that just 14% of American Adults believe that wearable computers like Google Glass are not likely to violate others' privacy, including six percent (6%) who say it is Not At All Likely. But 85% disagree, with 67% who say this is Very Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on June 3-4, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 9, 2014

39% Would Take a Commercial Space Flight

Virgin Galactic has announced that it will begin commercial passenger space flights as early as this year, and four out of 10 Americans are open to the idea.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of American Adults say they would travel into space on a commercial space flight if they could afford it, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-five percent (55%), however, would not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 3-4, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

June 5, 2014

45% Think Media Coverage Encourages Copycat Killers

Americans tend to believe the media pay too much attention to mass murders and that their coverage prompts others to commit violent crimes.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults believe the media cover mass murders like the one in southern California too much, while just 13% say they don’t cover them enough. One-in-three (33%) says the level of media coverage is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 30-31, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

June 5, 2014

Fewer Americans Will Cut Their Summer Vacation Spending

Just as many Americans will be taking a summer vacation this year, but fewer will be cutting back on how much they spend.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults plan to take a summer vacation this year. That's consistent with surveying for the last couple years. The number of summer vacationers fell into the 30s following the Wall Street meltdown in 2008. (To see question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update ? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 26-27, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 3, 2014

Most Voters Still Agree School Food Standards Are Not A Federal Issue

School districts around the country have been pushing to opt out of the school food guidelines championed by First Lady Michelle Obama, and the House Appropriations Committee last week passed a bill that would allow them to do so for budgetary reasons. Most Americans continue to believe it's not the federal government's job to decide what school kids eat.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of American Adults think the federal government should set nutritional standards for schools, although that's up from 18% last August. But 51% still believe those standards should be set locally, with 37% who say they should be decided by parent-teacher groups and 14% who see them as the responsibility of local government. Fifteen percent (15%) think school nutritional standards should be determined by state governments. Support for local or state control is unchanged from the previous survey. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on May 28-29, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

June 3, 2014

52% Think More Help for the Mentally Ill Will Help Deter Mass Killings

Most Americans seem to accept mass killings like the recent one in southern California as an unavoidable fact of modern life but also continue to feel more treatment of the mentally ill will reduce the number of incidents like this.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only nine percent (9%) of American Adults believe a free society like ours can ever be made completely safe from a mass murder like the one in southern California. Seventy-one percent (71%) disagree and say a society like ours cannot totally avoid such incidents. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 30-31, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

May 30, 2014

75% Still Think It Will Be Tough for Young People to Find Jobs This Summer

As the school year comes to a close, American continue to strongly believe it is important for kids to have a summer job but also think they'll have a tough time finding one.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 93% of American Adults feel it is at least somewhat important for young people to have jobs during the summer when school's out, including 66% who say it’s Very Important. Just five percent (5%) rate a summer job not very or Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 26-27, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

May 30, 2014

55% Have Read A Book or Poem by Maya Angelou

Poet Maya Angelou died this week at the age of 86, and she will be remembered fondly by most Americans, especially those familiar with her work.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of American Adults have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Angelou, also a performer and civil rights activist. Just 12% view her unfavorably, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This includes 35% with a Very Favorable opinion and three percent (3%) with a Very Unfavorable one. One-in-three (31%) don’t know enough about her to offer an opinion. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 28-29, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

May 27, 2014

Most Americans View Newlyweds Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Unfavorably

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian and hip-hop superstar Kanye West were married over the weekend in Paris. The news of their wedding was nearly inescapable, but that doesn't mean most Americans like the newlyweds very much.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 77% of American Adults have at least a somewhat unfavorable view of Kardashian, and just 11% view her favorably. This includes 48% with a Very Unfavorable opinion and only two percent (2%) with a Very Favorable one. Similarly, 71% have at least a somewhat unfavorable opinion of West, while just 13% have a somewhat favorable opinion of the rapper. This includes 45% with a Very Unfavorable view and four percent (4%) who view him Very Favorably. Six percent (6%) have never heard of Kardashian, and slightly more (10%) say the same of her new husband. (To see survey question wording, click here).

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on May 24-25, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

May 26, 2014

39% Consider Memorial Day One of the Most Important Holidays

More Americans now rank Memorial Day among the nation’s most important holidays, and nearly half will do something special to celebrate and honor those who have given their life for our country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of American Adults consider Memorial Day one of the country’s most important holidays, up from 31% a year ago. Just four percent (4%) think it is one of the least important holidays, while most (52%) see it as somewhere in between. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 U.S. Adults was conducted on May 20-21, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

May 23, 2014

64% Consider Memorial Day the Start of Summer

Most Americans still think Memorial Day means summer has arrived, and many will be making the most of the holiday as usual. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% of American Adults consider Memorial Day, celebrated this coming Monday, the unofficial start of summer. Just 26% disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here).

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 U.S. Adults was conducted on May 20-21, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

May 15, 2014

77% Say Losing a Wallet Worse Than Losing a Cell Phone

Despite the fact that most Americans use a mobile phone several times a day or more, most still think losing their wallet is scarier than losing their phone.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of American Adults who own a mobile phone use it to make calls, send text messages and e-mails or use the Internet at least once a day. That includes 13% who use their phone every hour, and another 13% who do so constantly. Seventeen percent (17%) rarely or never use their mobile phone. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 8-9, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.