Datapoints

The Fall of the Wall 11/05/2009 

People living in east and west Germany are broadly positive about German reunification, according to a new poll from the Pew Global Attitudes Project. Younger people in both east and west are more positive than older ones. In the poll, 63 percent of those 29 and older living in the east say their lives are better off as a result of reunification. Only 16 percent in the poll said they were worse.

*Note: In 1991, people were asked if they approved or disapproved of reunification. In 2009, they were asked whether they had a positive or negative opinion of reunification.

Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, August–September 2009.

The Press vs. the Military 10/28/2009 

In wartime, relations between the press and the military tend to be strained. In a mid-October survey, the Pew Research Center asked people how much they trust the press and the military to report how the war in Afghanistan is going. The military, the most trusted institution in the country according to recent polling history, is trusted more than the media in this particular case. Thirty-six percent were not confident in the military’s reporting; 59 percent gave that response about the press.  

Source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, October 2009.

Global Warming 10/28/2009 

The countdown to Copenhagen, where nations will gather to discuss global climate change, continues, but most Americans aren’t paying much attention. In a new poll from the Pew Research Center, just 14 percent said they had heard a lot about “a policy being considered by the president and Congress” called “cap-and-trade” that would limits carbon dioxide emissions. Thirty percent had heard some about the policy, and 55 percent not at all. In another recent poll, a Pew IQ quiz, just 23 percent of those surveyed knew that the term “cap-and-trade” related to energy. In the new late September/early October Pew poll, 35 percent, down from 47 percent in April 2009, said the global warming problem was “very serious.”

Americans have agreed on the goals they want environmental policy to serve. They want a clean and healthful environment and are willing to pay for it. But they aren’t as engaged in discussing global warming in particular or how to reach environmental goals in general. That’s part of the reason for the low level of attention.

Source: Pew Research Center, September-October 2009.

Swine Flu Surge 10/27/2009 

President Obama has declared swine flu, or H1N1, a national emergency, and public concerns are rising. Fifty-two percent of Americans in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll, up from 39 percent in August, said that they were concerned that they or someone in their immediate family would get the swine flu. In the poll, 67 percent expressed confidence that the vaccine is safe. Just 22 percent were very confident.

Source: ABC News/Washington Post, October 2009.  

Americans Ignorant? 10/20/2009 

Periodically, the Pew Research Center asks Americans a series of knowledge questions. Most Americans are busy, so it’s hardly surprising they don’t pay as much attention to complex policy issues as politicians or pundits do, and they frequently give wrong answers. How much should this worry us? The great sociologist Dan Yankelovich notes that while our democracy is a “prime example of a successfully functioning democracy, it is not a prime example of a well-informed citizenry.” He argues that while reporters delight in showing how ignorant the public generally is, “the public frequently arrives at judgments that are sound, considered, and sometimes profound.” With his wise counsel in mind, we show a few recent results from Pew.

Source: Pew Research Center, October 2009.

Iran’s Intentions 10/19/2009 

Americans aren’t confident that tougher sanctions will coax Iran to give up its nuclear program. In a new poll from the Pew Research Center, only 32 percent say sanctions will work. What then? In the poll, six in ten said it was more important to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even if it means taking military action, while 24 percent said it was more important to avoid military conflict, even if that means Iran may develop nuclear weapons. 

Source: Pew Research Center, October 2009.

McChrystal’s Might 10/15/2009 

The military is the most highly rated institution in American life. Rich and poor, young and old, and black and white all rate the institution highly. In a new poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, 81 percent of those surveyed said they trusted the U.S. military to make the right recommendations about U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan. Large majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents agreed. In a separate question, 55 percent trusted President Obama to make the right decisions about the Afghanistan war. Several Republican lawmakers have called for General Stanley McChrystal to testify, but thus far Defense Secretary Robert Gates has resisted the calls. One reason may be the popularity disparity between the military and the president.

Source: Quinnipiac University, September 29 to October 5, 2009.

Healthcare Finish Line 10/14/2009 

As healthcare legislation moves toward the floor of the House and Senate, several recent polls have shown a public divided about the effort. In a new poll conducted by GfK-Roper for the Associated Press, 40 percent said they supported the healthcare reform plans discussed in Congress, while 40 percent were opposed. In the poll, 82 percent said it was important that any healthcare plan have bipartisan support.

Source: GfK-Roper for the Associated Press, October 1 to 5, 2009.

Aiding Afghanistan 10/09/2009 

As President Obama’s war council continues deliberations on Afghanistan, Americans are giving mixed signals about the effort. A new poll from Quinnipiac University finds that 52 percent agree that the United States is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan, while 37 percent said the United States should not be involved. Nearly two-thirds in the poll said eliminating the threat from terrorists operating there was a worthwhile goal for American troops to fight and die for. In another question, however, 39 percent said building a stable democratic government there was a similarly worthwhile goal. Only 22 percent thought we could be successful building a democracy there. Americans have always welcomed more democracies around the world. They are not confident that we know how to create them.

Source: Quinnipiac University, September 29 to October 5, 2009.

Women's Status 10/07/2009 

In 1963, President Kennedy issued a major report on the status of women. This week, his niece Maria Shriver updates it with a media extravaganza on NBC and affiliated cable networks. “The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Changes Everything,” conducted in conjunction with the Center for American Progress, will look at how women fare today. We are examining some key indicators, too.

Since 2001, Gallup has asked Americans about satisfaction with various aspects of American life. One of the questions asks about “the position of women in the nation,” and in each survey, a large majority of Americans report being satisfied. In 2008, in only one other area—the overall quality of life—was satisfaction higher than it was with the position of women. Eighty-two reported satisfaction with the overall quality of their lives; 72 percent with the position of women.

Source: The Gallup Organization, January 2008.