General Lifestyle

69% Say Domestic Animals Are Treated Well In The U.S.

In an era where animal videos on YouTube get just as many views as a speech by the president, most American pet owners say domestic animals in this country are treated well.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. pet owners finds that 69% say, generally speaking, most domestic animals are well-treated here.   Seventeen percent (17%) disagree, and another 14% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 640 Pet Owners was conducted on January 26-27, 2012 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.

54% of Pet Owners Have A Dog, 24% A Cat

Animal lovers can be quite passionate in the age-old debate of cats versus dogs, but when it comes to which animal is a more popular house pet in America, dogs come out way ahead. Whether a cat person or a dog person, though, an overwhelming number of pet owners talk to their pet and consider it a joy to own.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% of American Adults own a pet, while 34% do not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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66% Believe Nutritional Information On Menus To Be Accurate

Increasing numbers of restaurants around the country are disclosing nutritional information on their menus, and most Americans think that information is fairly accurate.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the accuracy of nutritional information currently provided on menus by some restaurants.  But that figure includes just 16% who are Very Confident.  Twenty-nine percent (29%) are not confident the information is accurate, including six percent (6%) who are Not At All Confident.  (To see survey question wording, click here).

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

75% Say It's Better for Children to Grow Up In Two-Parent Home

Adults nationwide overwhelmingly believe that it is important for children to grow up in a home with both parents and feel those children have an advantage over those who grow up in a single-parent home.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 95% say it is at least somewhat important for children to grow up in a home with both parents. This finding includes 73% who see this as Very Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 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.

45% Eating Out Less Often Than They Were Six Months Ago

While Americans seem to be showing a bit more confidence in the economy, their eating habits haven't changed much.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults are dining out less often than they were six months ago. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

78% Rate Marriage As Important to U.S. Society

Americans believe overwhelmingly in the importance of marriage, and a sizable number continue to feel it’s too easy to get a divorce in this country.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of American Adults rate the institution of marriage as at least somewhat important to U.S. society, and that includes 60% who consider it Very Important. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 17% don’t believe marriage is a very important institution, with three percent (3%) who say it’s Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 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.  Some survey questions were asked of married adults who are not separated.  The margin of sampling error on those questions is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

33% Say Race Relations in America Getting Better, 32% Worse

As Americans celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, their perceptions of race relations in the United States have grown a bit more negative.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 33% now believe race relations in America today are getting better, while 32% say they are getting worse. Twenty-nine percent (29%) say race relations are staying about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

54% See Current TV Ratings System As Effective

A majority of Americans nationwide believe the current television ratings system does a satisfactory job of warning viewers of possible objectionable content, and half say they’re less likely to watch a program after such a warning.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. Adults shows that 54% believe the current TV rating system is an effective way to warn viewers about objectionable content, but 28% disagree. Another 18% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

64% Favor FCC Regulation of TV and Radio

More Americans than ever believe the Federal Communications Commission should be allowed to regulate objectionable content on television and radio, as the U.S. Supreme Court debates whether the government should retain that power.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 64% support the FCC regulating profanity, violence and sexual content on TV and radio. Twenty-four percent (24%) do not think the FCC should have this power, while another 11% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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

68% Oppose Law Requiring High School Students to Apply to College

Members of the Washington, D.C. City Council are proposing a law that would make all high school students take college entrance exams and apply to at least one post-secondary school as requirements for graduation. But most Americans don't like the proposals.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 24% of Adults favor a law in their community that would require all high school students to apply to at least one college as a requirement for graduation. Sixty-eight percent (68%) oppose such a law.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 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.

66% Say Military Service Is Good For Young People

Most Americans agree that military service is good for the young but also acknowledge that it's a more stressful line of work than most other jobs.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% of American Adults believe serving in the military service is good for young people, Just 17% disagree, while another 17% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on December 30, 2011 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.

38% Say Government Should Pay for College for Those Who Can't Afford It

Most Americans still believe any good student can find a way to get into college, and if a student is accepted at a college but can't afford it, a sizable number of adults think the government should pay for it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults finds that 60% of adults believe that just about any good student who wants to attend college can find a way to do so in America today.  That’s up from 54% in early May 2009.   Twenty-nine percent (29%) don’t believe this to be true, while 11% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on January 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.

One-in-Four Americans Prefers Reading on Electronic Device

The number of Americans that prefers to read a book on an electronic reading device has tripled from earlier this year, but most still prefer a traditional book.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 27% have now used a Kindle or a similar electronic book-reading device.

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on December 15-16, 2011 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% Support Complete Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving

Last week the National Transportation Safety Board called for a federal ban on all cellular phone use while driving, including hands-free devices.  More than one-third of Americans favor such a ban, but most think hands-free devices should still be allowed.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 36% believe there should be a complete ban on cell phone use by drivers. Sixty-one percent (61%) believe drivers should be allowed to use hands-free devices.

41% Are Concerned About Safety of Holiday Toys

‘Tis the season for many parents to be worried about how safe the toys are they give to their children, but there appears to be a lot less worry this year.

Just 41% of American Adults are even somewhat concerned about the safety of most toys being sold this holiday season, down from 51% a year ago and 48% in December 2009.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% don’t share that concern. These findings include 16% who are Very Concerned about toy safety and 12% who are Not At All Concerned.

40% Giving Less to Charity This Year

While two-out-of-five Adults say they are giving less to charity than they did last year, they are more confident that the money they donate will be used effectively. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of U.S. Adults shows that 46% say they are giving about the same amount to charity now as they were a year ago, but 40% say they are giving less.

This national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 9-10, 2011 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.

58% Think Airport Security Now About Right

Americans overwhelmingly believe in the safety of air travel in this country and are more satisfied with airport security measures.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 91% of American Adults think air travel in the United States is at least somewhat safe, with 47% who consider it Very Safe. Just six percent (6%) feel that air travel in America is not very or not at all safe.

43% Have Put Off Medical Procedures To Save Money

More Americans than ever say they’ve avoided the doctor’s office because they cannot afford it. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% say they’ve postponed a medical checkup or procedure to save money in the past six months.  That finding shows little change from last September, but is up six points from March 2009. 

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 14-15, 2011 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.

72% Have Grown Children Living With Them Or Knows Someone Who Does

Americans nationwide overwhelmingly agree that it’s more common for grown children to live with their parents these days, and they don’t think that’s a good thing.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 86% believe it is more common for grown children to live with their parents compared to 20 years ago.

64% Favor Jailing Sex Offenders Indefinitely If Necessary

As new disclosures emerge from the scandal at Penn State University, most Americans feel the criminal justice system is not aggressive enough in fighting child sex abuse and think that convicted offenders should be jailed indefinitely if officials feel they might strike again.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 87% of American Adults believe that child sex abuse is at least a somewhat serious problem in the country today, with 57% who say it’s a Very Serious issue. Just nine percent (9%) don’t consider child sex abuse a serious problem, including two percent (2%) who say it’s Not At All Serious.

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 8-9, 2010 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.