How scary is this?

[libcurious]

For the past 2 years I have been taking an unbiased poll. I have asked 2,000 common people - in front of stores, salons, on walks etc... Women, men, teens, children, old, young and middle age.
Black, white, hispanic, asian, arab, christian, jewish and so on.
I asked straight forward questions and only accepted yes, no, more or less answers. These were the most prevalent issues when I started.

Here are my results:

Have you read the Bill of Rights? 3% said yes
Do you participate in a religion? 88% said yes
Should the Church have more say in govt.? 61% said yes
Are taxes to high? 84% said yes
Do you favor more or less govt.? 72% said less
Do you favor universal health care? 82% said no
Is it OK to have an abortion? 32% said yes
Do you favor more or less gun control? 76% said less
Would you pay taxes if you didn't have to? 83% said no
Should govt. do more or less for the poor? 79% said more

I know this is not a scientific poll, but I wanted to know what a poll would look like if it wasn't done by so-called news orgs. or think tanks for the left or right.

[gWbush is Mabus]

1. scary indeed!

[Beetwasher]

2. Where Do You Live?

Your results would be MUCH different in different places. If you took that poll in NYC most of your data would be reversed.

[libcurious]

3. I agree

I am in the Heartland, KC Missouri
However, Missouri was about 50-50 during the last pres. election so I am kind of surprised.

[MessiahRp]

4. Well that kind of explains it...

Even if Missouri goes to Kerry it will be on issues like Iraq and National Security, not his social issues. The further South you go, it seems the more fundamentalist it gets.

Rp

[rucky]

5. 82% not in favor of universal health care?!

that goes against any other poll - even in the most conservative areas

[libcurious]

8. I know

It has me stumped because I have seen numbers totally reversed, like you say.

[keithyboy]

11. Universal health care means government paying for poor people

poor people in most American's minds mean minority, especially black and undocumented immigrants, thus, most would not be in favor of "universal health care." It's just the way Americans perceive things.

[libcurious]

14. But

according to the media for the past 14 years, universal health care is free health care for poor people, provided mainly by taxing the middle class. That is why I asked it in such a generic way.

[Bandit]

6. A little contradictory

I want to pay less taxes and have no health care but government needs to do more for the poor. :shrug: Oh and also the Yes I am a good Christian and that is why we need more guns.

[libcurious]

12. Don't know about that

I am an atheist and firmly believe in the Second Amendment.

[Bandit]

26. And your point is???????

Christians believe "Thou Shall not Kill." Guns are designed for no other purpose. Thus the contradiction. Atheist don't have that conflict.

[salin]

7. given that you have two questions in their about taxes

you should have questions about specific services those taxes pay for - not just something that people perceive as helping "the poor".

For example...

Should the government continue guaranteeing loans for first time home owners (yes/no)

(FHA - is how many people are able to get their first mortgage)

Should the government spend more or less on financial aid and student loans for college? (more/less/same)

Should the government provide public education? (yes/no)

(local/state and fed taxes)

Should local governments subsidize ambulance services if that is what is needed to keep the service running? (yes/no)


Most folks take things like these forgranted and don't realize they benefit from government spending every day. Thus the question about taxes, (two, no less) - without any questions about what those taxes pay for in terms of the general population - only gets part of the equation.

[libcurious]

10. That is why I was curious

Anyone can come up with a question to get the answer they want. If I were to ask questions phrased like you say, than people would naturally say yes without thinking. I asked basic questions to get an honest answer. Like I said, it's not scientific but I thought the differences between polling groups and this little thing were interesting.

[salin]

21. But aren't the two tax questions

kind of the same thing? Not many people enjoy paying taxes.

There has to be a way that asks about government services - even if to just get at whether or not people believe they actually benefit from govt spending (eg a return on their tax dollars).

[Kanary]

9. I'm encouraged by your last question

I'm surprised that 79% want more "help" for poor folks.

Given what I see here on DU, even Dems don't express that opinion.

So, that part is encouraging.

Kanary

[KT2000]

13. This is what the RW knows

about people. "It's all about me!!!"

These appear to be the social issues that the RW has targeted. Through their noise machine they have fostered a sense of resentment where compassion used to be.

Try asking; "For lower taxes, what services are you willing to give up?" I bet that it would be nearly impossible to find someone who did not suggest what "other people" should give up to save taxes.

[libcurious]

16. Great point

But I really don't think the right wing is as bad as you say. Conservatives - yes - but most on the right side are just normal people with some different views

[tandot]

15. 79% say that Government should do more for the poor, but

83% said they wouldn't pay taxes and 72% said they want less government???

And only 3% said that they've read the Bill of Rights?

If you ask people in a face-to-face interview, they are more likely to give you the answer that they think you want to hear or that in their mind reflects "majority" opinion. And where the poll is taken will make a huge difference.

Also, the way a question is asked:
"Is it OK to have an abortion" or "should ALL abortions be banned and women prosecuted for murder?" (which will happen if the B*sh administration gets 4 more years).

[libcurious]

17. That is why

I asked the questions the way I did. I would approach someone, ask if they could help me on a school paper by taking a short poll. If they said yes, I told them just a simple one word answer, no names needed and just honest answers is all I wanted. I would not answer any question from them or tell them my views.

[tandot]

18. I think it is great that you are interested in that and had

the guts to just stop people and ask them questions.

But again, even if people do NOT have to give their names and you promise that it is all anonymous, they still might not give you an honest answer. People don't want to look like outsiders or appear uncaring. So, they usually give you answers that they perceive the majority of people would give. It has nothing to do with you. For example, if you ask "should the Government help the poor more/less? Some people might answer with "help more" because they don't want to look uncaring or seen as lacking empathy. They might think that those "lazy welfare moms" are getting a free ride and are taking advantage of the system, but most wouldn't tell you that in your face.

Are you enrolled in college? If you are interested in that sort of thing, enroll in a couple of psychology classes (especially classes that teach research methods).

[Jim Warren]

19. Not very

I would say your sample represents illiterate,
>>Have you read the Bill of Rights? 3% said yes

religious fundamentalist,
>>Do you participate in a religion? 88% said yes
>>Should the Church have more say in govt.? 61% said yes

whose main source of inspiration is right-wing-nut talk radio,
>>Are taxes to high? 84% said yes
>>Do you favor more or less govt.? 72% said less
>>Do you favor universal health care? 82% said no
>>Is it OK to have an abortion? 32% said yes
>>Do you favor more or less gun control? 76% said less
>>Would you pay taxes if you didn't have to? 83% said no

and the last question is thrown in to make this sound good.

[libcurious]

22. Well lets see then

I am an atheist, pro-choice and believe everyone deserves aid when needed - so therefore I am a right wing fanatic.
I love politics, decide to do a real paper asking REAL people what they think of the issues in the paper at the time. It doesn't say what you want it to, so then it must be done by a nut and must be wrong. SAD

[Jim Warren]

25. Nice try

You'll see I said 'your sample'.

Promoting defeatism is sad.

[SoCalDem]

20. Rightwing radio for 30 + years have served up their propaganda well

Next poll...I have a suggestion for the questions..

Who should pay for roads and highways?

Are you willing to pay $1,000 a month per child for grade school & high school?

Are you willing to refuse social security?

Do you want a kid with TB sitting next to your child at school?

How much mercury/arsenic/pcb/dioxin is acceptable in your drinking water?

Are you willing to have an Imam or Rabbi dictate governmental policy?

Is it OK for your government to lie to you??

Is it ok with you, if rich kids "sit out" during wars?

Is it OK with you if the CEO of your company makes 500 times what you make??

Can you generate all the power you need to run your household??





just a few suggestions..

Libertarian types love to believe that THEY should not have to actually pay for the stuff in their daily lives, that they EXPECT to be there..

[libcurious]

23. As I said

before, I could have worded this to get any response I wanted. Especially with questions based on fear, such as the ones you provided. However, I asked very basic questions so as not to give any inclination as to my political views and to get honest answers.

[sendero]

24. Typical Americans.....

..... you should have asked them:

Should you be able to eat your cake and have it too?

If they are honest, 80% or so would say yes.