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July 5, 2011

The People Want Higher Taxes By Froma Harrop

Poll after poll shows that the American people want higher taxes. That's not the same as liking higher taxes. The people have simply concluded that higher taxes are preferable to the alternative -- so vividly portrayed in the Republican plan to do away with government guarantees in Medicare.

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July 5, 2011

67% Say States Should Be Able to Prohibit Sale of Violent Video Games to Children

The U.S. Supreme Court last week overturned a California law that made it illegal to rent or sell violent video games to children, but Americans strongly favor such laws.

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July 4, 2011

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43% Democrats 40%

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate, while 40% would choose the Democrat instead.  This is consistent with results throughout 2011 but represents a 3 point gain for the Democrats compared to a week ago.

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July 4, 2011

53% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law As Expectation of Repeal Hits New High

A majority of American voters continue to favor repeal of the health care law passed by Congress last year and the number who expect repeal has reached a new high.

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July 4, 2011

65% Say Fourth of July One of Nation’s Most Important Holidays

While many people look forward to the Fourth of July for barbecues and fireworks, most Americans recognize the importance of our nation’s Independence Day—but that does not mean barbecues and fireworks are off the table.

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July 4, 2011

Replacing Property as a Source of Wealth Creation By Michael Barone

One of the interesting things about our country, the independence of which the Founders declared 235 years ago today, is that we have been a property-holders' democracy.

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July 3, 2011

54% Say U.S. Is Nation of Liberty and Justice for All

Millions and millions of Americans routinely recite the Pledge of Allegiance at countless gatherings across the United States. And, when they do, they close with the line about how our nation is a land of “liberty and justice for all.”

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July 3, 2011

Full Month Approval Ratings for President Slip in June

When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.

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July 3, 2011

43% See George Washington As Greatest Founding Father

As America prepares to celebrate its 235th birthday, a plurality of adults still sees the nation’s first president as its greatest founder.

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July 2, 2011

Partisan Trends: 34.7% of Americans are Democrats, 34.4% Republicans

For the first time since March, more American adults consider themselves Democrats rather than Republicans.

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July 2, 2011

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending July 2, 2011

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 235th birthday, Americans still overwhelmingly agree with the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence. Ninety percent (90%) agree that “we are all endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”  Americans also strongly support the beliefs that we are all created equal and the government’s derive their only just authority from the consent of the governed. Men tend to be stronger supporters of these views than women, but majorities of just about all demographic groups agree.

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July 1, 2011

57% View Hillary Clinton Favorably

Globe-trotting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was in Hungary this week urging greater democratic freedoms, remains the most well-known and well-liked member of President Obama’s Cabinet among voters back at home. 

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July 1, 2011

Americans Under 40 Skeptical About Receiving Promised Social Security Benefits

Just 26% of voters under 40 believe it’s even Somewhat Likely they will receive all of their promised Social Security benefits.  That includes only 5% who say it’s Very Likely those benefits will be paid.

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July 1, 2011

51% Say Gov't Should Force Oil Companies To Use Profits To Develop Alternative Energy

Voters strongly believe the United States is not doing enough to explore alternative sources of energy, and most still think oil companies should devote big money to searching for those types of energy.

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July 1, 2011

Big Steps and Baby Steps By Susan Estrich

Just days after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and the coalition supporting similar legislation in that state effectively conceded defeat.

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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.

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July 1, 2011

Four Trillion for War -- and Rising By Joe Conason

Anyone paying attention to the costs of U.S. military action in Iraq and Afghanistan must have known that the president badly underestimated those numbers on June 22, when he told the nation that we have spent "a trillion dollars" waging war over the past decade.

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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.

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June 30, 2011

65% Believe Americans Should Have Right to Pick Own Social Security Retirement Age

While politicians argue whether to increase Social Security taxes or raise the retirement age for eligibility, voters think such decisions should be made closer to home.

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June 30, 2011

Voters Give Mixed Marks to Biden, Boehner; Still Don't Like Pelosi

Vice President Joseph Biden and House Speaker John Boehner have received an increase in media attention for being at the center of the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations, but voters have not changed their opinions of the two men.  Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi remains the most disliked leader on Capitol Hill.