63% Oppose Giving Women, Minorities Special Treatment When It Comes to Hiring
Just over one-in-five Likely U.S. Voters (22%) now support government programs that give special treatment when hiring to women and minorities.
General Politics
Most Recent Releases
July 25, 2011
July 25, 2011
56% Favor A Congressional Candidate Who Endorses Balanced Approach to Debt Debate
Both major political parties are looking to next year’s elections to resolve the nation’s budget stalemate, and for now most voters would opt for a congressional candidate who balances spending cuts with tax hikes over one who’s totally opposed to any tax increases.
July 22, 2011
Most Voters Are Unhappy With Both Sides in the Debt Ceiling Debate
Most voters don’t care much for the way either political party is performing in the federal debt ceiling debate.
July 22, 2011
Most Voters Fear Debt Deal Will Raise Taxes Too Much, Cut Spending Too Little
While Washington wrangles over how to avoid defaulting on the government’s massive debt load, voters are worried the final deal will raise taxes too much but won't cut spending enough.
July 21, 2011
Voters Skeptical About Spending Cuts In Debt Ceiling Debate
Even if the president and Congress can agree on a plan to raise the debt ceiling that raises taxes on the wealthy and cuts spending, less than half of America’s voters believe the spending cuts would actually happen.
July 20, 2011
53% Support Automatic Drug Testing For Welfare Applicants
Florida and Missouri have already passed measures that require some form of drug testing during the welfare application process, with Florida now requiring all applicants to be tested. A majority of voters nationwide agree with automatically testing all welfare applicants for illegal drug use.
July 19, 2011
75% See Middle Class Tax Hikes As Likely in Debt Ceiling Deal
When politicians talk about cutting government spending and raising taxes on the wealthy, voters are skeptical about the spending cuts and expect middle class taxes to go up, too.
July 18, 2011
48% Think Major Cuts in Defense Spending Won’t Put America At Risk
Nearly one-half of Americans now think the United States can make major cuts in defense spending without putting the country in danger. They believe even more strongly that there’s no risk in cutting way back on what America spends to defend other countries.
July 15, 2011
29% Are Conservative on Fiscal and Social Issues, 10% Liberal on Both
Voters remain slightly more conservative when it comes to fiscal policy than they are on social issues, while 29% still say they are conservative in both areas.
July 15, 2011
67% Oppose Upcoming ‘Ban’ on Traditional Light Bulbs
One-in-five Americans (20%) say they or someone they know has bought large quantities of traditional light bulbs to use when those bulbs disappear off store shelves next year under new federal light bulb regulations.
July 14, 2011
58% Trust Jury More To Determine Guilt or Innocence, 27% Trust Judge
Consistent with trust in individual citizens rather than government officials, most adults nationwide still trust a jury over a judge to determine the innocence or guilt of a defendant. However, faith in juries is down a bit following the Casey Anthony verdict.
July 12, 2011
Support for Military Action in Libya Is Down to 24%
Voters remain skeptical about U.S. military involvement in Libya, with a plurality still opposed to further military action in the north African country.
July 11, 2011
53% Oppose Gas Tax Hike, Even If Dedicated Only to Interstate Highways
Voters oppose any increase in the federal gas tax even if the money goes only to developing and keeping up Interstate highways.
July 9, 2011
55% Say Decreased Government Spending Good for the Economy
President Obama and Congress are currently debating how deep to cut government spending and whether to include some tax increases as part of a budget deal. But voters feel more strongly than ever that decreasing government spending is good for the economy and think tax increases of any kind are bad economic medicine.
July 8, 2011
72% Favor Free Market Economy Over One Managed by the Government
Voters remain strongly supportive of a free market economy over one controlled by the government and still think small businesses are hurt more than big businesses when the government does get involved.
July 8, 2011
18% Favor Military Draft, 30% Support Required Year of Public Service
Support among voters for a military draft is at its lowest level in several years, but nearly one-out-of-three voters favor mandatory public service.
July 7, 2011
Plurality Sees Both Republicans, Democrats in Congress as Extreme
For the second month in a row, slightly more voters describe the Republican agenda in Congress as being more extreme than mainstream. Voters have consistently felt this way about the agenda of congressional Democrats.
July 7, 2011
75% See Vital U.S. Interests As Only Reason For Committing Military Forces to Overseas Action
Compared to the four presidents who followed him, Ronald Reagan had a more limited view of when to send U.S. military force into action overseas and voters today still embrace the more restrained use of force that he advocated.
July 1, 2011
Americans Still Agree With Ideals Set Forth in the Declaration of Independence
The upcoming Fourth of July holiday marks the 235th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence's adoption by the Continental Congress, and most Americans still agree with the central tenets of the document that declared the nation's independence from Great Britain. Whether the United States meets those lofty goals is subject to debate.
June 30, 2011
Most Americans Give Constitution High Marks, Say Don't Change It
Most Americans still believe the U.S. Constitution has a positive impact on American life and think it should be left as is. But a sizable number also feels the document does not put enough restrictions on government.
