Lifestyle

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.)

(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 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.

12% View New Year’s Day As Most Important Holiday

One of the most highly anticipated holidays of the year is also one of the least important in the eyes of many Americans. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 12% of American Adults consider New Year’s Day to be one of the nation’s most important holidays.  Thirty-two percent (32%) view it as the least important, while 52% see it as somewhere in between.  (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 December 26-27, 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.

30% to Make New Year’s Resolutions

On New Year’s Eve, most Americans will be awake to bid farewell to 2011 and welcome in the new year of 2012.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 30% will start the new year off by honoring the tradition of making resolutions to improve their lives. Sixty-one percent (61%) won’t bother with resolutions, and eight percent (8%) haven't made up their minds yet. (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 December 28-29, 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. Seemethodology.

27% Give 2011 Positive Ratings, 39% Optimistic About Next Year

As 2011 comes to an end, Americans expected it to be better than it turned out, but they are slightly more optimistic about the future than they were last year at this time. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of American Adults expect 2012 to be a good, excellent or the best year ever, while 23% feel it will be poor.  (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 December 28-29, 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.

Americans Plan To Be Busy New Year's Eve

Look out! Saturday night is New Year's Eve, and 44% of American Adults plan to kiss someone at midnight. Sixty-one percent (61%) plan to say a prayer on New Year's Eve, but it's not clear if that's before or after the kiss. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that not quite as many Americans (40%) intend to have a drink that night to celebrate, but 22% will be asleep by the time midnight rolls around. Sixty-two percent (62%) plan to be awake at that hour, and another 15% haven't made up their minds yet. (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 December 26-27, 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.

Christmas Ranks First Among Holidays

For most adults, Christmas continues to be America's most important holiday.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of American Adults consider Christmas one of the nation’s most important holidays, showing little change from last year and consistent with surveys stretching back to December 2006. Only six percent (6%) see Christmas as one of the least important holidays, while 24% rate it somewhere in between.

(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 December 21-22, 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.

74% Believe Jesus Was Son of God

Most adults who will be celebrating Christmas tomorrow will do so as a religious holiday, and an overwhelming majority believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 90% will be celebrating Christmas in their family. Of those adults, 74% will be celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday while 22% will be observing it as a secular one. (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 December 17-18, 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% Haven’t Finished Their Holiday Shopping; 18% Still Haven’t Started

Panic time? Thirty-eight percent (38%) of American Adults haven’t finished their holiday shopping with Christmas coming on Sunday, and 18% haven’t even started yet, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

(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 December 21-22, 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.

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.

(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 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.

26% Have Yet To Start Their Holiday Shopping

With less than one week left until Christmas, one-in-four Americans hasn’t started holiday gift shopping yet. But quite a few more adults have finished since last week.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 39% have now finished their holiday gift shopping. That's 18% more who've wrapped up their shopping since a week ago when just 21% were done.  Most (57%) still haven't finished shopping though.

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.

51% Say Economic Conditions Make Holiday Travel Less Likely

The number of adults who expect to travel away from home during the holiday season has slowly increased in recent years, but half still say the current economy makes them less likely to do so.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 21% will be traveling away from home this holiday season.

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.

21% Have Finished Their Holiday Shopping; 35% Haven't Begun Yet

One-in-five Americans have now finished their holiday shopping, but one-third of adults haven't even started.  

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 21% of American Adults say they now have finished their holiday gift shopping.  That means another 10% have gotten finished in the past two weeks since only 11% were done just after Black Friday.

81% Who Celebrate Christmas Celebrate as a Religious Holiday

More Americans than ever say they celebrate the upcoming holiday of Christmas as a religious one. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 88% of American Adults say they celebrate Christmas, and 81% of this group celebrate it as a religious holiday. Just 16% of those celebrants regard it as a secular holiday.

Most Americans Don’t Mind Being Wished “Happy Holidays”

Whether Americans celebrate Christmas or not, most are not offended by the type of holiday greeting they receive this time of year.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 88% celebrate Christmas, while eight percent (8%) do not.

79% Say Religious Holidays Should Be Celebrated in Public Schools

At a time when most Americans see political correctness as a serious problem in this country, an overwhelming majority continues to believe religious holidays should be celebrated in the public schools. 

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.

11% Have Finished Holiday Shopping, 49% Haven’t Started

After the much-hyped Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, only a few more Americans say they are done with their holiday shopping compared to last week. Nearly half still haven’t even started.