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                            February 16, 201449% Say Buying a Home is Best Investment for Families
Just about half of Americans think buying a home is a good investment, while the belief that now is a good time to sell a home remains steady.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of American Adults say buying a home is the best investment most families can make. This is down slightly from December but is in line with findings in regular surveys throughout 2012 and 2013. An all-time high of 67% felt that way in May 2009. Twenty-seven percent (27%) now feel a home is not a family’s best investment, while 24% 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 February 11-12, 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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                            February 15, 2014What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending February 15, 2014
The Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia have provided plenty of drama for over a week now, but Washington, DC offered some excitement of its own this week.

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                            February 14, 201483% Say It’s Important For Economy to Provide All Chance to Succeed
Most voters continue to support an economic system that provides everyone a chance to succeed, and they generally believe it is fair and helpful for the economy to let those who are successful become very rich.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 83% of Likely U.S. Voters now think it is at least somewhat important for the economic system to provide everybody with an opportunity to succeed. This is down three points from October’s all-time high. Just 14% do not think that this is important, up from a record low of 10% in October. This includes 59% who think it’s Very Important  for everyone to have a chance to succeed, and just four percent (4%) who think it’s 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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 12-13, 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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                            February 14, 201425% Believe Gov't Should Assist Those Who Can’t Make Mortgage Payments
Most homeowners continue to say they have not missed a mortgage payment in the last six months and fewer than ever expect to in the near future. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just five percent (5%) of U.S. Homeowners admit to missing or being late on a mortgage payment in the last six months. Ninety-three percent (93%) have not missed or been late on a payment, up slightly from 91% in December. (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 610 Adult Homeowners and 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 11-12, 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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                            February 14, 201465% Think Felons Should be Able to Vote After Completing Jail Time
Voters in 11 states can permanently lose their right to vote if convicted of a felony. Among most other states, that right can be restored only after serving some combination of their jail time, parole and probation. But most voters believe someone convicted of a felony should regain the right to vote after serving their sentence problem-free.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters think that if someone is convicted of a felony and serves their sentence without problem, their right to vote should be restored. Twenty-three percent (23%) disagree, but 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 12-13, 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.
February 14, 2014'Disparate Impact' Doctrine Often Hurts Those it's Intended to Help by Michael Barone
Disparate impact. That's a phrase you don't hear much in everyday conversation. But it's the shorthand description of a legal doctrine with important effects on everyday American life -- and more if Barack Obama and his political allies get their way.
Consider the Department of Justice and Department of Education policies on school discipline. In a "dear colleague" letter distributed last month, the departments noted that "students of certain racial or ethnic groups tend to be disciplined more than their peers."
Michael Barone, senior political analyst at the Washington Examiner, where this article first appeared (www.washingtonexaminer.com), is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Fox News Channel contributor and a co-author of The Almanac of American Politics. To find out more about Michael Barone, and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2014 THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM

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                            February 14, 2014Most Adults Are Indifferent Toward Valentine’s Day
Very few adults consider Valentine’s Day one of the nation’s most important holidays, but more than half neither look forward to nor dread the day.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just five percent (5%) of American Adults consider Valentine’s Day one of the nation’s most important holidays. Most (63%) rank it among the least important holidays, while 31% say it’s somewhere in between. Even more say it’s one of the least important holidays than last year. (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 February 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.

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                            February 13, 201466% Want Dinner With Someone Special for Valentine’s Day
Most adults aren't planning to send or receive flowers this Valentine's Day, which may be good, since most want something else anyway.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% of American Adults want dinner with someone special for Valentine's Day. Just seven percent (7%) want flowers, and just eight percent (8%) want chocolate candy most. Nineteen percent (19%) are not sure what they want. (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 February 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.

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                            February 13, 201435% Expect Their Home’s Value To Go Up Over Next Year
The number of homeowners who say their home is worth more than what they owe on their mortgage has increased after a weak start to 2014. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of homeowners feel the value of their home is more than what they owe on their mortgage. That is up from 53% in January, which was the lowest level of confidence ever measured for the month of January since Rasmussen Reports began regular tracking on this question in April 2009. Twenty-eight percent (28%) now say their home is not worth more than they owe, down from 32% in January. 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 610 Adult Homeowners was conducted on February 11-12, 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.

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                            February 13, 2014Voters Rate Obama More Negatively on the Economy, National Security
Voters haven’t exactly been singing President Obama’s praises lately when it comes to economy and national security issues,  but they’re even more critical of him now.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 32% rate Obama’s handling of economic issues as good or excellent, down two points from the previous week and the lowest positive ratings since early December. Nearly half (47%) rate him poorly on the economy, up four points from last week and the highest poor rating since the same early December 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on February 10-11, 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.
February 13, 2014Losing Our Third Places By Froma Harrop
A story that captivated New York City: A group of elderly Korean-Americans had been gathering at a McDonald's in Queens for conversation and fellowship. They'd sit there all day long, sometimes sharing a $1.39 package of fries. The hangout was so popular that friends from other neighborhoods would travel to join them.  

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                            February 13, 201457% Want Debt Ceiling Deal to Include Major Spending Cuts
Congress this week passed a “clean” bill to raise the federal debt ceiling without spending cuts attached. While voters agree that not raising the debt ceiling would be bad for the economy, they also wanted a deal that includes significant spending cuts.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 79% of Likely Voters think it’s at least somewhat likely that the debt ceiling will be raised before the government begins defaulting on its debts. Just 13% see this outcome as unlikely. These findings include 47% who say a deal to raise the debt ceiling is Very Likely to happen and just three percent (3%) who consider it Not At All 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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 10-11, 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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                            February 12, 201429% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
For the second week in a row, 29% of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending February 9.
This finding has fluctuated between 29% and 30% every week since mid-December and is consistent with attitudes for much of the Obama presidency. A year ago, 38% said the country was heading in the right direction.
(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 telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on February 3-9, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            February 12, 2014What America Thinks of Baby Boomers
The Baby Boom generation, born from 1946 to 1964, is moving off center stage and into retirement. But what does America think of the nation’s biggest-ever birth cohort?

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                            February 12, 201471% Favor Immigrants Who Work Hard to Pursue American Dream
Most voters continuously oppose illegal immigration but admit that, when done legally, immigration is good for America. This explains why a majority have a favorable opinion of immigrants who come to this country to work hard, support their family and pursue the American Dream.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of immigrants who work hard to pursue the American Dream, down just slightly from 76% in May. Just 12% have an unfavorable opinion of such immigrants, but 17% 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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 10-11, 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.
February 12, 2014The Privileged People By John Stossel
Politicians say, "We're all equal," and pretend that they represent everyone. But, in fact, they constantly pick winners and losers. America is now like the place described in George Orwell's book "Animal Farm": "All animals are equal," but some are "more equal than others." "Animal Farm" was about Communism, but today the allegory applies to our bloated democracy, too.

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                            February 12, 201456% Support Right to Choose Your Own Social Security and Medicare Retirement Age
Most voters continue to believe Americans should be able to choose their own Social Security and Medicare retirement age and decide what they pay out of their paycheck for those benefits. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters think that as long they are able to cover the cost of their decision, people should have the right to pick the age at which they will begin to receive federal Social Security and Medicare benefits. Those who want to retire earlier could pay more in Social Security taxes now. Those who would prefer lower taxes today could pay less in taxes and retire later. Twenty-six percent (26%) don’t think Americans should have that option, while 19% 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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 6-7, 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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                            February 11, 201444% Are Confident They Will Receive All Promised Social Security Benefits
Most voters still have a favorable opinion of the Social Security system but also continue to doubt that they will receive all their benefits from the federal retirement system.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat confident that the Social Security system will pay them all their promised retirement benefits during their lifetime, with 19% who are Very Confident. Fifty-five percent (55%) lack that confidence, including 25% who are Not At All Confident. (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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 6-7, 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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                            February 11, 201435% Think Baby Boomers Have Been Good for America
A majority of Americans have a favorable impression of the so-called Baby Boomer generation, but they are less enthusiastic about the generation’s impact on America.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 77% of American Adults correctly identify the Baby Boomer generation as those born between 1946 and 1964. Seven percent (7%) believe the term Baby Boomer applies to those born between 1929 and 1945 during the Great Depression and World War II, while just as many (7%) think the term applies to those born between 1965 and 1974 during the war in Vietnam and the Watergate scandal.  Four percent (4%) think the Baby Boomer generation was born when Ronald Reagan was president in the 1980s. (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 February 5-6, 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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                            February 11, 201468% Oppose Bonuses for IRS Employees
Voters are only slightly less convinced that the Internal Revenue Service broke the law when it targeted Tea Party and other conservative groups, and they strongly oppose bonuses being awarded to IRS employees for their work last year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 15% of Likely U.S. Voters favor IRS management’s decision to give millions of dollars in performance bonuses to its employees for 2013. Sixty-eight percent (68%) oppose awarding the bonuses to IRS employees. Seventeen percent (17%) 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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 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.