Support for Military Action in Libya Is Down to 24%
Voters remain skeptical about U.S. military involvement in Libya, with a plurality still opposed to further military action in the north African country.
General Politics
Most Recent Releases
July 12, 2011
July 11, 2011
53% Oppose Gas Tax Hike, Even If Dedicated Only to Interstate Highways
Voters oppose any increase in the federal gas tax even if the money goes only to developing and keeping up Interstate highways.
July 9, 2011
55% Say Decreased Government Spending Good for the Economy
President Obama and Congress are currently debating how deep to cut government spending and whether to include some tax increases as part of a budget deal. But voters feel more strongly than ever that decreasing government spending is good for the economy and think tax increases of any kind are bad economic medicine.
July 8, 2011
72% Favor Free Market Economy Over One Managed by the Government
Voters remain strongly supportive of a free market economy over one controlled by the government and still think small businesses are hurt more than big businesses when the government does get involved.
July 8, 2011
18% Favor Military Draft, 30% Support Required Year of Public Service
Support among voters for a military draft is at its lowest level in several years, but nearly one-out-of-three voters favor mandatory public service.
July 7, 2011
Plurality Sees Both Republicans, Democrats in Congress as Extreme
For the second month in a row, slightly more voters describe the Republican agenda in Congress as being more extreme than mainstream. Voters have consistently felt this way about the agenda of congressional Democrats.
July 7, 2011
75% See Vital U.S. Interests As Only Reason For Committing Military Forces to Overseas Action
Compared to the four presidents who followed him, Ronald Reagan had a more limited view of when to send U.S. military force into action overseas and voters today still embrace the more restrained use of force that he advocated.
July 1, 2011
Americans Still Agree With Ideals Set Forth in the Declaration of Independence
The upcoming Fourth of July holiday marks the 235th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence's adoption by the Continental Congress, and most Americans still agree with the central tenets of the document that declared the nation's independence from Great Britain. Whether the United States meets those lofty goals is subject to debate.
June 30, 2011
Most Americans Give Constitution High Marks, Say Don't Change It
Most Americans still believe the U.S. Constitution has a positive impact on American life and think it should be left as is. But a sizable number also feels the document does not put enough restrictions on government.
June 30, 2011
10% Would Base Their Vote On A Candidate’s Religion
Voters say overwhelmingly that they would not vote for or against a political candidate solely because of the religion he or she practices.
June 29, 2011
Most Americans Fear A Government That Is Too Powerful
As the nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day, more Americans than ever see danger in a government that is too powerful.
June 29, 2011
63% Favor Death Penalty, 47% Say It Deters Crime
Support for the death penalty remains high, and adults are a bit more confident that capital punishment helps deter crime than they were a year ago.
June 28, 2011
66% Say U.S. Society Fair and Decent
Most voters continue to believe U.S. society is generally fair and decent, but they aren’t quite as convinced that President Obama shares their views.
June 28, 2011
47% See U.S. Justice System As Fair To Most Americans, 34% Don't
Less than half of adults nationwide believe the U.S. system of justice is fair to most Americans. But far more think the problem with the system is not that the innocent are treated unfairly but that the guilty go free.
June 27, 2011
73% Say Woman President Likely in Next 10 Years
Voters are more willing than ever to elect a woman president, and most think there’s a good chance a woman will win the White House in the next 10 years.
June 24, 2011
29% Say Legal System Puts Individual Rights Over National Security
Voters appear less concerned these days with protecting individual rights when it comes to national security and public safety.
June 22, 2011
46% Say Average Reporter Is More Liberal Than They Are
Voters still think most reporters are politically biased and tend to view them as more liberal than they are.
June 21, 2011
Most Americans Put Deficit Reduction Ahead of Increasing Food Safety Inspections
Just a few days after the House of Representatives passed a bill that slashes spending on food safety and nutrition programs, most Americans say reducing the deficit is more important than increasing food safety inspections. Either way, Americans are mostly confident their food is safe.
June 20, 2011
70% Say Default is Bad for Economy, 56% Say Failure to Cut Spending is Worse
Voters strongly agree that failing to raise the federal government’s debt ceiling is bad for the economy. But most see a failure to make big cuts in government spending as a bigger long- and short-term threat than the government defaulting on the federal debt.
June 15, 2011
45% See Gap Between Governed and Those Who Govern As Comparable to American Revolution
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with the following statement: The gap between Americans who want to govern themselves and politicians who want to rule over them is now as big as the gap between the American colonies and England during the 18th Century.
