Americans Regard Military Highly

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reports that the American public’s esteem for the Military is high. The findings are based on a survey of 4,006 adults via telephone interviews conducted March 21-April 8, 2013. The report further explains the findings:

Americans report that they continue to hold the military in high regard, with more than three-quarters of U.S. adults (78%) saying that members of the armed services contribute “a lot” to society’s well-being. That’s a modest decline from 84% four years ago, the last time the Pew Research Center asked the public to rate various professions. But the military still tops the list of 10 occupational groups, followed closely by teachers, medical doctors, scientists and engineers. A solid majority of the public says each of those occupations contributes a lot to society.

Whites are somewhat more likely than either Blacks or Hispanics to say members of the military contribute a lot to society. And Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party are somewhat more likely than Democrats and independents who lean toward the Democratic Party to see the military as contributing a lot to society.

The full article can be read here:  http://www.pewforum.org/Other-Demographics/Public-Esteem-for-Military-Still-High.aspx

Young Americans Oppose Internet Sales Tax

In a recent Gallup poll, the majority of Americans (57%) say they would vote against a law that would allow each state to collect sales taxes on purchases its residents make online over the Internet. Young adults (73%) voice the most widespread opposition to such a law.

The Senate passed an Internet sales tax bill, the Marketplace Fairness Act, last month on a bipartisan basis, but it has yet to pass the House. This legislation would allow states to require online sellers to collect sales taxes, which would go to state and local governments. The legislation would apply to online retailers earning at least $1 million in sales outside of states where they have brick-and-mortar locations. Currently, online retailers do not have to collect sales taxes on Internet purchases unless they have a physical presence in the state.

This legislation faces more opposition in the House than it did in the Senate, with numerous members, including House Speaker John Boehner, criticizing it. The White House has announced that the president supports the legislation.

Age largely shapes Americans' views on taxing Internet sales. Younger Americans are much more likely than older Americans to oppose such a law. If Republicans in the House oppose the Internet sales tax bill, that may help the GOP's appeal to younger Americans, a key demographic in the party's plans to build support before the 2014 and 2016 elections.

56% of Americans are Averse to Filing Taxes

  While not exactly groundbreaking, Pew Research Center released a poll detailing that a majority (56%) of Americans do not care for doing their taxes.  Of those averse, 26% hate it and 30% merely dislike the annual chore.  29% say they like it and a small sliver of Americans even enjoy filling out their income taxes (5%).
  Reasons for elation include the refund that's sure to come, one's own skill for filling out taxes, a sense of control, and even the duty to play a fair share to the system.  On the other hand, reasons for consternation include the inherent complications, the time consuming nature, and a marked disfavor with the government's use of tax money.
  Across partisan lines, Democrats are much more likely to enjoy doing their taxes than Republicans, with 40% of Democrats enjoying taxes and 32% disliking the task.  Independents are even less likely to feel joy at the prospect of taxes, with only 31% responding favorably.  Republicans are more likely than either Democrats or Independents to see a failure to report all income as "morally wrong" (at 78%, 68%, and 69% respectively).

U.S. Hispanic Adults Twice as Likely to Identify or Lean Democratic

According to Gallup, a compilation of  daily tracking data for 2012 shows that 51% of Hispanic adults identify as or lean Democratic, with 24% of Hispanic respondents identifying as or leaning Republican.  Upon further probing of initial responses, 20% of Hispanics were true independents and did not have a party preference.

This trends holds true across age groups for the Hispanic population.  50% of the 18-34 and 35-54 age group identified or leaned Democratic, while the 59% of the 55+ age group identified similarly.  While similar across age groups, the Hispanic population is not as identified with the Democratic Party as the Non-Hispanic Black population, but more likely than the Non-Hispanic White population to identify with the Democratic Party.  In addition, an earlier Gallup analysis reveals that U.S.-born Hispanics were more likely to be Republican than their foreign-born counterparts.

Americans Pessimistic About Fiscal Cliff Negotiations

With the fiscal cliff looming just weeks away, the Pew Research Center released a poll reflecting the public's concerns regarding the ongoing negotiations between the White House and Republican Congressmen. 40% of Americans believe lawmakers will reach a deal before the January 1^st deadline, when mandatory spending cuts and tax increases take effect.  49% believe no deal will come to fruition, hurling the U.S. over the fiscal cliff – something many experts believe will drag the economy into another recession.  If no deal is reached, 53% of the public said they'd blame Republican Congressmen, and just 27% would place blame on President Obama.  Democrats are more optimistic about negotiations, with 55% saying they expect a deal to emerge before the New Year, compared with just 22% of Republicans

Demographics and Leanings of Nonvoters

By choosing not to vote, nonvoters will influence the upcoming election, but with a great deal of media attention on just who is voting, Pew Research Center releases a survey describing those who choose not to come to the polls.

Back in 2008, nonvoters made up 43% of the population of those who could vote.  The current nonvoting population, which strongly favors Obama at 59%, strongly differs from the likely voting population which is split at 47% for both candidates.

Independents make up the largest proportion of nonvoters with 44%, whereas only 27% of likely voters have described themselves as independent.  More Democrats than Republicans are nonvoters, 29% and 17% respectively, while they are locked in a near tie among the likely voting population, 35% and 34% respectively.

In addition, Pew released another table describing gender, religion, and income here.  Key notes show that those with higher incomes are more likely to be voters than nonvoters, that men are more likely than women to be considered as nonvoters, younger voters are more likely nonvoters, and that the category of nonvoters is more likely to be Hispanic.

President Obama and Mitt Romney Locked in a Tight Battle For America's Next President

With the 2012 presidential election only months away, Gallup’s Election 2012 Trial Heat: Obama vs. Romney pits the two candidates in a tight race – so tight, in fact, that the two are in a statistical tie.  Registered voters were asked: “Suppose the presidential election were held today.  If Barack Obama were the Democratic Party’s candidate and Mitt Romney were the Republican Party’s candidate, who would you vote for Barack Obama, the Democrat or Mitt Romney, the Republican?”  Undecided voters were asked which candidate they leaned towards, and their responses were incorporated into the results.  If the election were held today, Gallup's results (with the margin of error falling at ±3%) indicate that the result is too close to call.

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans Would Not Vote for a Mormon President

According to Gallup’s Frank Newport, the American public has not altered its views on the possibility of a Mormon president for the past 44 years. When asked if they would vote for their party's candidate if they were Mormon, 18 percent of respondents said they would not.  That response varies only slightly from the 17% who responded similarly in 1968. Additionally, of those who know Romney’s faith, 9% said they would not vote for a Mormon.  On the other hand, 29% of those who are unaware of Romney’s faith would not vote for a Mormon. With Mitt Romney ramping up his campaign for the upcoming presidential elections, it will be interesting to see how the electorate, which has never seen a Mormon major-party nominee, will respond. 

Partisan Divide at 25-Year High

The Pew Research Center recently released a report on the growing partisan polarization in America.  Pew surveyed respondents for the past 25 years on 48 different political values measures.  Over the 48 questions, the average percentage-point difference between Republicans and Democrats was 18%, up from 10% a quarter-century ago.  Additionally, whereas other divides based on race, education, and income have remained stable, party differences have surged.  The issues that have contributed most to this increasing polarization are the social safety net, the environment, labor unions, equal opportunity, the scope and size of the government, and immigration.  The environment and the size of the government in particular have experienced the greatest shift in polarization; the percentage-point difference regarding the environment and size of government is 34% and 27% higher respectively than 25 years ago.  Perhaps this disparity is linked to another of Pew’s discoveries examining partisan identification.  When asked how they identify themselves, 68% of Republicans believed they were conservative, up from 60% in 2000. Additionally, 38% of Democrats felt they were liberal, up from 28% in 2000.

Half of Americans Support Legal Gay Marriage

Gallup ran a poll on May 8^th which determined that fifty percent of Americans support legal gay marriage.  This percentage dropped three points since last year; however, this year marks just the second year since Gallup began tracking this question that at least 50% of Americans supported legal gay marriage.  On the other hand, 48% believe gay marriage should not be permitted.  In 1996, when Gallup first began tracking the gay marriage debate, only 27% supported legalizing gay marriage and 68% were opposed.  65% of Democrats believe gay marriage should be legal, while only 22% of Republicans approve.  This stark contrast between political parties characterizes the hotly contested debate in America, and this poll underscores the divisiveness of the issue.

Americans Continue to Prioritize Economy Over Environmental Protection

Gallup released a survey in which Americans answered whether they felt the protection of the environment or the growth of the economy should be given a higher priority.  Since 2009, Americans have placed a higher priority on economic growth.  Though that gap was at its highest with an 18 percent difference in early 2011, Americans still favor economic growth over environmental protection by a 49% to 41% margin.  Until the recession hit in 2007, most Americans prioritized environmental protection, but as the economy weakened, the difference shrunk. Beginning in 2009, more Americans favored improving the economy before protecting the environment.  This trend is remarkably new.  Before the recession, Americans clearly prioritized the environment over economic growth; in 1991, the difference was 51% in favor of the environment.  That gap narrowed during the new millennium.  The BP oil spill in 2010 raised more concerns about the environment, but this trend was short-lived.  Among the political parties, 66% of those who are registered Republicans will prioritize economic development compared to just 27% favoring environmental protection.  On the other hand, 50% of Democrats still prioritize the environment over economic growth.