What to make of all the polls on the government shutdown? You know, the ones that say that, to varying degrees, congressional Republicans are being blamed more than Democrats and Barack Obama.
Fans of representative democracy know that there are ways to advocate one's beliefs short of threatening and delivering harm to the larger society. It used to be that one could blame the parade of manufactured crises not on the whole Republican Party but on its unruly tea party faction. That's becoming less and less so as what remains of the pragmatic leadership caves in to the extremists' demands.
The GOP's perspective on governing seems to have moved from enlightenment to medieval. It's become the party of pain.
Most Americans still think politics play a part in deciding the winners of Nobel Prizes, but one-in-three would rather win one than any other major award. Still, most wouldn’t jump to read a book by a Nobel Prize winner.
Just 20% of American Adults believe politics does not play a part in the awarding of Nobel Prizes, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll. Fifty-one percent (51%) disagree and thinks politics is a behind-the-scenes factor. Twenty-nine percent (29%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 9-10, 2013 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.
Voters remain evenly divided in their opinions of the Environmental Protection Agency, but a sizable number still believe the agency’s regulations and actions hurt the economy.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 39% of Likely Voters have a favorable opinion of the EPA, while just as many (39%) view it unfavorably. Twenty-two percent (22%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 8-9, 2013 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.
Currently, any child living in the United States legally or illegally is entitled to a free public education. Voters are closely divided over whether they agree with that policy.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters say if a family is not in the country legally, their children should still be allowed to attend public school. That's a 13-point increase from the 32% who felt that way in August 2011. Forty-two percent (42%) disagree and think the children of illegal immigrants should not be allowed to go to public schools. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 4-5, 2013 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.
Several employees of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff are going on trial this week for their part in orchestrating one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in history, but many Americans still believe others in the financial industry are getting away with too much.
Just 14% of American Adults believe the federal government has been aggressive enough in pursuing possible criminal behavior on Wall Street, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Sixty-eight percent (68%) don’t think the federal government has been aggressive enough in this area. Eighteen percent (18%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 7-8, 2013 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 voters agree that if Congress and the president don’t raise the federal debt ceiling it will be bad for the economy but think major cuts in government spending should be part of any deal to raise that ceiling.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters think there will be no economic impact if the federal government’s $16.7 trillion debt ceiling is not raised. Sixty-two percent (62%) believe it will be bad for the economy if the government defaults on its debt. Twelve percent (12%) say it will be good for the economy. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 8-9, 2013 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.
Government wants you to play a role in the "shutdown" of the federal government. Your role is to panic.
Most Americans recognize the importance of the medical profession, but nearly three-out-of-10 think doctors make too much money.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults think being a doctor is one of the most important jobs in the country today. Thirty percent (30%) disagree. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 5-6, 2013 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.
With no end in sight to the partial government shutdown, the number of voters who believe the country is heading in the right direction has fallen 11 points over the past week to its lowest level in nearly two years.
Just 17% of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending October 6. That's down from 28%the week before and the lowest finding since early December 2011.
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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on September 30-October 6, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie continues to lead Democratic challenger Barbara Buono by over 20 points in his bid for reelection.
A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey conducted before last night’s gubernatorial debate shows Christie with 55% support from Likely New Jersey Voters to Buono’s 34%. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The state survey of 1,000 Likely Voters in New Jersey was conducted October 7, 2013 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 are more fearful of another economic meltdown these days, and belief that the U.S. government will default on its debt has jumped from six months ago.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of American adults now think it is at least somewhat likely that the United States soon will face another financial industry meltdown similar to the 2008 crisis, with 35% who say it is Very Likely. In April, 59% felt another meltdown is likely in the near future, including 26% who said it is Very Likely.
Twenty-two percent (22%) believe another meltdown is unlikely anytime soon, but that includes only two percent (2%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 7-8, 2013 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.
"This book is far from all good news." So writes Tyler Cowen at the beginning of his latest book, "Average is Over: Powering America Beyond the Age of The Great Stagnation."
Cowen is an economist at George Mason University who is generally classified as libertarian and whose interests range far afield. His most recent books include "The Great Stagnation" and "An Economist Gets Lunch" (his advice: skip fancy downtown places, eat at restaurants attached to Pakistani-owned motels).
In an era of finicky foodies and celebrity chefs, Marcella Hazan never troubled herself with the rough-and-tumble of branding. Not sexy like Nigella Lawson, not colorful like Emeril Lagasse, not adorable like Rachael Ray -- not even eccentric like Julia Child -- Hazan nailed Italian cooking in a uniquely grumpy way.
Fewer Americans say they are paying more for drugs these days. The number who say they’ve postponed a medical procedure due to cost is also down from past years. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 29% of American Adults are paying more for prescription drugs than they were six months ago, but that's down from 37% in November 2011 and 36% in March 2010. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 3-4, 2013 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.
Voters for the first time are evenly divided over whether there should be a waiting period before a woman can get an abortion, but the importance of abortion as a voting issue has fallen to its lowest level in a year-and-a-half.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters continue to favor a waiting period before an abortion, but that's down from 47% in July and an all-time high of 56% in February, 2011. Forty-three percent (43%) now also oppose a waiting period requirement, a six-point jump from July and a new high. Fourteen percent (14%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 6-7, 2013 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.
The New Jersey special election for U.S. Senate is just over a week away, and Newark Mayor Cory Booker still holds a double-digit lead over Republican Steve Lonegan.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely New Jersey Voters shows Booker with 53% of the vote to Lonegan’s 41%. One percent (1%) prefer some other candidate, and five percent (5%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The state survey of 1,000 Likely Voters in New Jersey was conducted October 7, 2013 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 over half of voters think the partial government shutdown will have a negative impact on them personally and want Congress to end the shutdown by authorizing spending for the health care law at existing levels. But most Republicans still would rather continue the shutdown until spending for the law is cut.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 13% of Likely U.S. Voters say the shutdown has had a major impact on their personal lives so far. Another 38% say they have felt a minor impact from the shutdown. Forty-seven percent (47%) say it has had no impact at all on them. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 6-7, 2013 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.
As lawmakers in Washington, D.C. continue to fight over the president’s health care law, half of Americans say they are paying more for health care than they were last year, but just as many think the private sector, not the federal government, is the way to keep those costs down.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of American Adults say they are paying more for health care now than they were a year ago. Forty-two percent (42%) are not. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on October 3-4, 2013 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.
As the federal government shutdown continues without an end in sight, Democrats have lost their lead of the last two weeks and are again running even with Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending Sunday, October 6, shows that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while another 40% would choose the Republican instead.
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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from September 30-October 6, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
