General Lifestyle

Most Americans Favor More School Spending Until The Price Tag Is Attached

Most Americans don't think the government spends enough on public education until they find out how much it really does spend on schools. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 29% of American Adults believe the government spends too much on public education.  Fifty-two percent (52%) disagree and feel the government doesn’t spend enough. Thirteen percent (13%) say the level of government spending is about right.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

66% Say Formal Education Key to Success in Life, Not Street Smarts

With the start of school right around the corner, most Americans continue to believe that what you learn inside the classroom is more valuable than what’s learned on the outside.

Two-out-of-three (66%) American Adults say formal education is more important for success in life than street smarts, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.  Twenty-one percent (21%) think street smarts are more valuable, while another 14% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

68% Are Confident About Nutritional Info on Restaurant Menus

A majority of Americans continue to trust the nutritional information they find in menus and on menu boards at restaurants across the country.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of American Adults are at least somewhat confident about the accuracy of nutritional information published on menus, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-three percent (23%) are not confident in the accuracy of the nutrition information.

These findings include 20% who are Very Confident and just four percent (4%) who are Not At All Confident. They also show little change from January. (To see survey question wording, click here)

41% Dining Out Less Often Than They Were Six Months Ago

Fewer Americans than ever say they are going out to eat less often than they were six months ago.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of American Adults say they are dining out at a restaurant less often compared to six months ago.  Only five percent (5%) say they are going out to eat more often, while a majority (53%) is dining out about the same as they were six months ago. (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 nationwide was conducted on July 30-31, 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.

68% Say There Are Too Many Unnecessary Laws in the U.S.

Although laws are meant to protect people from crime, the majority of Americans believe there are too many unnecessary laws in the United States and there are too many people in jail for violating them.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of American Adults think there are too many unnecessary laws in the United States today. Nineteen percent (19%) do not, but 13% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

52% Say Violence in Video Games, Movies Leads to More Violence in Society

After alleged shooter James Holmes killed 12 people in a shooting spree at a midnight screening of the newest Batman film, many were wondering whether violence in movies leads to more violence in society.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults do believe violent movies and television shows lead to more violence in society. Thirty-four percent (34%) disagree, but 14% 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 Adults was conducted on July 26-27, 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.

Most Americans Have Had Blood Pressure, Cholesterol Checked In Past Six Months

More Americans have had their blood pressure checked in the past six months than their cholesterol, and roughly a third have been told those levels are high.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 83% of American Adults have had their blood pressure checked in the last six months, while 61% have done the same with their cholesterol.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 14-15, 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.

66% Rate Their Own Health As Good Or Excellent

Most Americans continue to give their own health positive ratings, but a sizable number say their doctor has recommended a lifestyle change for them in the past year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% of American Adults rate their own health as good or excellent these days, while only nine percent (9%) say they're in poor health.  (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 July 14-15, 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.

42% Say They Cheated on a Test or Exam in School

New York City's school system is the latest to be hit with a major cheating scandal, but Americans nationwide believe most students cheat at least one time in school. A sizable number admits to cheating themselves.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 70% believe most students cheat at least once in school. Just 12% disagree with that assessment, but 17% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 12-13, 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.

66% Are Happy With Their Lives

Most Americans are happy with their lives and don't think money made them that way. But the majority also think rich people earned what they have by working for it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% of American Adults are not happy with how their lives are going. But two-out-of-three (66%) disagree and are happy with their lives. Thirteen percent (13%) 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 Adults nationwide was conducted on July 10-11, 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.

Most Americans Define $50,000-A-Year As Middle Income

So how much money do you have to earn to be a part of the middle class, and when would most Americans consider you wealthy?

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of American Adults consider $50,000 a year middle income, while 32% describe it as lower income. That hasn’t changed since the last time Rasmussen reports asked these questions in March 2009. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on July 10-11, 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.

24% of Dieters Have Used Pills to Lose Weight

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new weight-loss pill for the first time in 13 years, and this could be useful news for a quarter of Americans who say they have used such pills in the past while dieting.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 24% of American Adults who have been on a diet to lose weight have used a weight-loss drug to help them do so. Seventy-five percent (75%) have not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on June 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.

Only 43% Now Believe America Is The Last Best Hope of Mankind

Americans continue to believe strongly that their nation offers them more opportunities than any other country in the world, but they’re not nearly as confident in America’s place in the world.

Just 43% of American Adults now view the United States as the last best hope of mankind, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s down from 51% who felt that way in May 2010. Thirty percent (30%) say America is not the last best hope of mankind, as Ronald Reagan famously described it, but nearly as many (27%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Americans nationwide was conducted on June 30-July 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.

82% Oppose Replacing “Star-Spangled Banner” With New National Anthem

Bruce Springsteen topped the list in a recent poll asking who should write a new U.S. national anthem, but Americans feel more strongly than ever that the song we’ve got is just fine.

A new Rasmussen Reports national anthem finds that just 12% of American Adults believe the United States should change its national anthem from “The Star-Spangled Banner” to another patriotic song such as “America the Beautiful” or “God Bless America.” Eighty-two percent (82%) oppose changing the song written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 and adopted officially as the U.S. national anthem in 1931. (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 June 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.

69% Believe Ex-Penn State Coach Guilty of Some Child Abuse Charges

The trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky has just begun, but most Americans think they've already heard enough.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 69% believe Sandusky is guilty of at least some of the child sexual abuse charges against him. Just one percent (1%) don’t think he’s guilty of any of the charges, but 29% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on June 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.

29% Expect Cure for Cancer in Next 10 Years

A new breast cancer drug known as a “smart bomb” is making headlines as the next big thing in treating the disease.  But most Americans are still not optimistic that a cure for cancer will be found in the near future.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29%of American Adults think there will be a cancer cure in the next 10 years, unchanged from October 2009.  Forty-four percent (44%) do not think there will be a cure in the next decade, up six points from the earlier survey. Twenty-seven percent (27%) 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 American Adults was conducted on June 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.

69% View Queen Elizabeth II Favorably

Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee this week after serving 60 years on the throne of the United Kingdom. It’s a momentous occasion for Great Britain, in particular, and even though Americans aren’t following as closely, they still feel the royal family is an important British symbol.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 69% of American Adults share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Queen Elizabeth, including 23% with a Very Favorable one. Just 15% view her somewhat or Not Very Favorably, while slightly more (17%) have no opinion of the long-serving monarch. (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 American Adults was conducted on June 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.

65% Say No To Ban on Super-Size Sugary Drinks

The mayor has spoken: No super-size sweetened drinks will be sold in New York City if he has his way, but most Americans oppose that idea.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of American Adults oppose a law that would ban the sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 ounces. Just 24% favor a law like the one Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed as a way to fight obesity. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided about it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 31-June 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.

84% Think It’s Difficult For Young People To Find Summer Jobs

The unemployment rate for youths is nearly three times higher than it is among all Americans nationwide.  With summer right around the corner, adults feel it’s important for young people to find work, but they are also aware that it may not be that easy. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 94% of American Adults think it’s at least somewhat important for young people to have jobs during the summer when they are out of school, including 72% who view it as Very Important.  Only five percent (5%) say it’s not very or Not At All Important for these young people to work. (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 May 25-26, 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.

74% Say Labeling Needed for Foods with Genetically Modified Ingredients

Most Americans admit they don't know much about genetically modified ingredients in food, or GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), but they think any foods that contain them should be labelled to let consumers know.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that just 25% of Adults say they know a lot about genetically modified ingredients. A plurality (46%) says they know a little about these ingredients. But 28% say they know not much or nothing at all about them. (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 May 27-28, 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.