National Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters
Conducted October 12, 2008
By Rasmussen Reports

1* Given current economic conditions, which tax policy would be best to help spur economic growth? Would it be better to have higher taxes, lower taxes, or the same level of taxes?

10% Higher

51% Lower

29% Keep the same

11% Not sure

2* Suppose taxes were increased on people who make more than $250,000 a year. Would raising taxes for people who make more than $250,000 a year be good for the economy, bad for the economy, or have no impact on the economy?

47% Good for the economy

31% Bad

16% No impact

6% Not sure

3* When people sell stocks, bonds, and other assets for a profit, they pay a capital gains tax. Would raising the capital gains tax be good for the economy, bad for the economy, or have no impact on the economy?

26% Good for the economy

48% Bad

16% No impact

10% Not sure

4* Think for a moment just about the stock market. Would raising the capital gains tax make stock prices go higher or lower?

22% Higher

35% Lower

22% Have no impact

22% Not sure

5* To help the economy, is it more important to cut taxes or to get the government more involved in regulating and managing the economy?

41% Cut taxes

44% Government more involved

15% Not sure

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence