General Politics

71% Think Mentally Ill Should Be Under Stricter Observation

Following the recent horrific elementary school shooting in Connecticut, most Americans think the mentally ill should be monitored more closely. But a majority doesn’t think government officials should be allowed to ban movies and games that feature excessive violence.A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 71% of Adults believe people diagnosed with a mental illness should be placed under stricter control and observation. Just 11% disagree, but another 18% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 19-20, 2012 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.

46% Think America Overtaxed, 42% Disagree

Fewer voters than ever think the United States is overtaxed.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe the nation is overtaxed. But nearly as many (42%) disagree. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 16-17, 2012 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.

55% Favor Assault Weapons Ban, But 62% Oppose Complete Gun Ban

Most Americans favor taking semi-automatic and assault-type weapons off the market but also are wary of a society in which only the government has guns. Very few would opt for a neighborhood where they couldn’t own a gun. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of American Adults think there should be a ban on the purchase of semi-automatic and assault-type weapons. Thirty-six percent (36%) disagree and oppose such a ban. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 19-20, 2012 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.

59% Believe Tougher Gun Control Laws Are Coming

Americans are now evenly divided over the need for stronger anti-gun laws following last week's elementary school massacre, and most think such laws are at least somewhat likely. They're much less confident that limits will be placed on violent movies and video games. 

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of American Adults finds that 59% believe it’s at least somewhat likely that Congress and the president will create tougher gun control laws, but that includes just 22% who feel they are Very Likely.  Thirty-three percent (33%) view stricter anti-gun laws as unlikely, with 17% who say they are Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 17-18, 2012 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.

59% Think Tax Hikes on Millionaires Not Enough

Republican congressional leaders have given ground in the “fiscal cliff” negotiations and proposed raising taxes on those who make more than a million dollars a year, but most voters don’t think that goes far enough.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of Likely U.S. Voters favor House Speaker John Boehner’s “Plan B” to extend the Bush administration tax cuts for everyone who makes less than a million annually. Just 24% are opposed, with 14% more undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 18-19, 2012 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.

Following School Shooting, 86% Want More Action to Identify and Treat Mental Illness

Americans want something done following the horrific news from Sandy Hook Elementary School last week, and a plurality believes a greater emphasis on mental health issues will be the most effective way to prevent such tragedies.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Americans believe more action to treat mental health issues will do the most to prevent incidents like last Friday’s school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty-seven percent (27%) think stricter gun control laws will do the most to prevent such shootings, while 15% put the emphasis on limits on violent movies and video games. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 17-18, 2012 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.

41% Believe Economy is Fair to Middle Class, 56% Say It’s Not

Half of all voters believe the economy is fair to lower-income Americans but fewer think it is fair to the middle class.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely Voters believe the economy is at least somewhat fair to lower-income Americans, while 46% say it is not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 2012 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.

47% Say U.S. Economy is Fair, 49% Disagree

American voters are evenly divided as to whether or not the economy is fair.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% believe the economy is fair and 49% disagree. Those figures include nine percent (9%) who say it is Very Fair and 13% who see the economy as Not at All Fair.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 2012 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.

Just 37% Now Call Themselves Fiscal Conservatives

Voters appear to be showing a slight ideological shift as fewer now consider themselves fiscal conservatives and more say they are both fiscal and social liberals.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 37% of Likely U.S. Voters now say they are conservative when it comes to fiscal issues such as taxes and government spending. That’s the first time that number has dipped below 40% in surveys dating back to November 2007. Thirty-nine percent (39%) consider themselves fiscally moderate. One-in-five (20%) now say they are fiscally liberal. That's up from 11% in January and the highest finding to date. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 6-7, 2012 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.

46% See Federal Gov't As Threat to Rights, 45% As Protector

Voters take their constitutional rights very seriously and are evenly divided over whether the federal government protects or threatens those liberties.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters now regard the federal government today as a protector of individual rights. But 46% consider the government a threat to those rights. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 8-9, 2012 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.

56% Say American Society is Generally Fair and Decent

Most voters continue to feel America is a fair and decent country and that those who move here need to adopt the prevailing culture. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters think American society is generally fair and decent. Thirty percent (30%) disagree and view it as unfair and discriminatory. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 6-7, 2012 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.

Freedoms of Speech, Religion Top Freedoms of Press, Right to Bear Arms

Ask voters about some of their basic freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution, and they rate freedom of speech as most important and the right to bear arms as the least. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 85% of Likely U.S. Voters consider freedom of speech Very Important. Another 14% consider it somewhat important while just one percent (1%) think it’s not very important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 8-9, 2012 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.

37% Thinks U.S. Spends Too Much on Defense

With cuts in defense spending on the "fiscal cliff" negotiating table, 37% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States spends too much on the military and national security. That's up from 29% in early November, and the highest negative assessment of defense spending in over a year of regular tracking. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 23% of likely voters believe the country doesn't spend enough on the military and national security, while 33% feel the level of spending is about right. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 8-9, 2012 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.

45% Think U.S. Should Help Rebels if Syrian Government Resorts to Chemical Weapons

Voters now think Syria is slightly more likely to use chemical weapons against anti-government rebels, and a plurality continues to believe the United States should help the rebels if those weapons are used. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the Syrian government is likely to use chemical weapons against its opponents, with 18% who say it’s Very Likely. Just 23% think the government is unlikely to resort to these weapons to put down the growing protests, but that includes only five percent (5%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 6-7, 2012 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.

54% Put Economic Growth Ahead of Economic Fairness

Most voters still put growing the economy ahead of a level economic playing field, despite increasing calls for higher taxes on the wealthy. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters think economic growth is more important than economic fairness. Thirty-seven percent (37%) disagree and put economic fairness first. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 4-5, 2012 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.

19% Favor New Government Spending to Stimulate Economy

President Obama is calling for $200 billion in economic stimulus spending in his proposal to avoid the “fiscal cliff,” but few voters believe increased government spending will stimulate the economy. Most think tax cuts are the better way to go.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the government should increase federal spending to help stimulate the economy. Sixty-two percent (62%) oppose new spending as an economic stimulus. Nineteen percent (19%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 4-5, 2012 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.

Voters Think Obama More Willing to Deal on ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Than GOP

As the “fiscal cliff’ draws nearer, voters are more confident that President Obama is willing to agree to a deal with both spending cuts and tax increases than Republicans in Congress are.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the president is willing to accept a deal that includes both his tax increases and significant cuts in government spending. Nearly as many (40%) think Obama will insist on tax increases only.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 30-December 1, 2012 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.

No Change: 51% See Deal to Avoid ‘Fiscal Cliff’ As Likely

Most voters continue to feel President Obama and Congress should prevent the pending “fiscal cliff” of big tax hikes and deep spending cuts from being reached, but they remain only cautiously confident that a deal is possible.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Congress and the president should stop the tax increases and spending cuts totaling more than $500 billion that are scheduled to go into effect on January 1. Only 20% disagree, while 19% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 28-29, 2012 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.

Favorables: Socialism 24% Capitalism 68%

Most Americans continue to have favorable opinions of capitalism and the free enterprise system.

However, just 24% have a favorable opinion of socialism. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% have an unfavorable view of that economic system. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 25, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

34% Have Favorable Opinion of Federal Government

A huge and fundamental perception gap about the federal government has opened along party lines.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Democratic voters have a favorable opinion of the federal government. But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 86% of Republicans offer an unfavorable assessment of the feds.

As for those not affiliated with either major party, the numbers are 28% favorable and 73% unfavorable. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 25, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage point with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.