General Lifestyle

68% Support Government-Recognized National Day of Prayer

Congress 60 years ago established the National Day of Prayer, celebrated throughout the nation today, and 68% of American Adults favor federal government recognition of the special day.

Twenty-four percent (24%) of Americans are opposed to the government recognizing a National Day of Prayer, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted May 1-2, 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 Adults Consider Both Newspapers and Internet News Reliable

Americans continue to see both newspapers and Internet news sources as reliable and aren't worried about the availability of news reporting if newspapers go out of business.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of American Adults consider the reporting from their local paper as at least somewhat reliable, including 26% who say it is Very Reliable. Just 18% do not find the reporting from their local newspaper reliable, including three percent (3%) who think it is Not At All Reliable. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted April 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.

Americans Prefer Coke Over Pepsi

For decades, Americans have been asking each other Pepsi or Coke.  Rasmussen Reports conducted their own version of the so-called “Pepsi Challenge”, and we found Coca-Cola is the clear favorite among American Adults. 

Seventy-three percent (73%), in fact, have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Coke.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% share an unfavorable impression of the soft drink. These figures include 34% who give Very Favorable reviews to Coke and eight percent (8%) who view it Very Unfavorably.  (To see survey question wording,  click here.)

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

66% Prefer Reading Print Newspaper To Online Version

Despite the continuing shift from print to online media over the past several years, most Americans still like to read the newspaper away from their computers.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of American Adults say they prefer reading a printed version of the newspaper, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-eight percent (28%) like reading the online version of their preferred paper instead. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted April 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.

48% Believe Availability of Student Loans Has Driven Up Tuition Costs

Both President Obama and likely Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney are backing lower interest rates on some student loans, but nearly half of Americans nationwide believe the availability of student loans has driven up tuition costs for everyone. In fact, most Americans believe it’s better for students to work and attend school for a longer period of time rather than graduate in four years with loads of student debt.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that a plurality (48%) believes the availability of student loans has helped increase the cost of tuitions. Twenty-one percent (21%) disagree, but 31% more 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 April 21-22, 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.

62% Favor Government Loans for Good Students From Poor Households

President Obama is calling for an extension of low interest rates on some student loans, a proposal his Republican opponent Mitt Romney has embraced. Americans still strongly believe good students can get student loans and grants if they need them, but they're less supportive of government-backed loans for low-income students.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of American Adults think it’s at least somewhat likely that if someone really wants to go to college and is academically qualified, they can get grants and student loans needed to pay for tuition. Only 21% believe that's unlikely. These figures include 25% who say it’s Very Likely and three percent (3%) who believe it’s Not At All Likely.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on April 21-22, 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 Prefer Cutting Mail Delivery to More Subsidies for the Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service hopes to cut delivery to five days a week and close hundreds of post offices nationwide as major cost-cutting moves but is likely to have trouble getting the proposals through Congress this week. Most voters, however, are fine with both ideas rather than having to provide additional taxpayer money to keep the postal service afloat.  Three-out-of-four Americans (75%) would prefer the U.S. Postal Service cut mail delivery to five days a week rather than receive government subsidies to cover ongoing losses. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 20% of Adults would rather see the federal government provide additional funding to cover the agency’s losses. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on April 21-22, 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% Trust Jury More Than a Judge

Americans put much more faith in a jury of their peers than a judge to determine guilt or innocence in a trial.

Sixty-five percent (65%) of American adults trust a jury more than a judge, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 21% trust a judge more to determine guilt or innocence, while 15% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on April 11-12, 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.

55% Think Hate Is Growing In America

Most Americans still believe hate is increasing in this country, and support for tougher prosecution of hate crimes has rebounded from a low reached late last year.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of American Adults believe hate is growing in the United States. Just 23% disagree, while 22% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 17-18, 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.

33% Expect Zimmerman To Be Convicted of Murder in Trayvon Martin Case

Americans are slightly less sure that the man who shot black Florida teenager Trayvon Martin is guilty of murder but more convinced that he’ll be found guilty of that crime. However, a sizable number still remains unsure about what happened and what will happen in the days ahead.

Thirty percent (30%) of American Adults now believe George Zimmerman should be found guilty of murder, compared to 33% who felt that way just over two weeks ago. But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 24% think Zimmerman acted in self-defense, a view held by just 15% in the previous survey. Forty-six percent (46%) are not sure, down from 55% in late March. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on April 11-12, 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.

47% Say Office Betting Pools Good for the Workplace

Americans overwhelmingly believe office betting pools for events like the NCAA basketball tournament and the Super Bowl should not be illegal, and a sizable number thinks they are good for office productivity.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (47%) of American Adults believe office pools on sporting events help productivity by improving workplace camaraderie. Twenty-three percent (23%) say gambling pools at work hurt workplace productivity, while 19% say they have no impact. Eleven percent (11%) are not sure. These findings show little change from late March 2009.
(To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 5-6, 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.

36% Say There Are Too Many Competing State Lotteries

Lotto fever swept the country recently when the Mega Millions jackpot rose to a record-breaking $656 million, a prize that still has yet to be claimed. Support for state-run lotteries remains steady, but the number of Americans who say there are too many of them continues to rise.

Thirty-six percent (36%) of American Adults believe there are currently too many competing state lotteries, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just nine percent (9%) say there aren’t enough. Forty-one percent (41%) think the number of lotteries is just about right. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on April 5-6, 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.

73% Say U.S. Children More Overweight Than Those Overseas

Americans strongly believe that children in this country are fatter than kids overseas and think it's parents' responsibility to do something about it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% of American Adults think children are more overweight in America than in other countries. Just eight percent (8%) disagree, but another 18% are not sure. That's consistent with findings in November 2010 when Rasmussen Reports first asked this question.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on March 24-25, 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.

47% Support Legalizing, Taxing Marijuana

More Americans than ever support legalizing and taxing marijuana. They remain less supportive of so-called “sin taxes” on soda and junk food.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 47% now believe the country should legalize and tax marijuana in order to help solve the nation’s fiscal problems. Forty-two percent (42%) disagree, while 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on March 24-25, 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.

33% Believe Zimmerman Guilty of Murder in Trayvon Martin Case

Despite round-the-clock media coverage of the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida, most Americans haven’t come to a conclusion yet whether it’s a case of murder or self-defense.

One-third (33%) of adults believe crime watch volunteer George Zimmerman should be found guilty of murder in the shooting death of the Florida teenager, while 15% think Zimmerman acted in self-defense, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But 52% of Americans are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

65% Say Most High School Graduates Lack Skills to Enter the Workforce

Americans strongly believe that most high school graduates lack the skills needed for college or a job. They also tend to believe students who are home-schooled learn more than those in the public schools.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 21% of American Adults think most of those graduating high school have the skills needed for college. Sixty-four percent (64%) disagree and say those graduates don’t have the necessary skills for college. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 20-21, 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 Ban on Donating Food to Homeless Shelters

Americans nationwide strongly oppose a policy similar to the one New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg enacted that bans food donations to homeless shelters. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that only nine percent (9%) favor a policy that forbids people from donating food to the homeless in their communities. Most adults (82%) oppose such a ban. (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.

This national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 22-23, 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.

Just 23% Rate U.S. Public Schools As Good Or Excellent

This past week, a task force led by former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and former New York City School Chancellor Joel I. Klein warned that the country’s economic and national security are at risk if schools do not improve. Adults nationwide overwhelmingly share this concern and give low marks to the performance of America's public schools.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 98% of adults believe the quality of public education is at least somewhat important to the future of U.S. economic and national security, including 83% who view it as Very Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 20-21, 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.

22% Say Government Should Ban Tobacco Smoking

Most Americans still don't think tobacco smoking should be outlawed.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% of American Adults think the U.S. government should ban the smoking of tobacco. That’s up from 17% in November 2010 but down from 25% in June 2009.  However, 71% disagree with a government ban on smoking. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

74% Have Allergies or Know Someone Who Does

Spring is upon us, and for many, that means allergy season.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of American Adults suffer from allergies or know someone who does. That’s unchanged from last year. A lucky 22% do not suffer or know someone who does. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on March 16-17, 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.