Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Q: Thinking of the last six months, that is since May this year . . . ?
I have lost a job as a result
of economic conditions 9%
Someone in my family has 21
No 66
Source: GfKRoper/AP, November 2009.
Q: And thinking of the last six months, that is since May of this year . . . ?
Someone I know personally other than
a family member has lost a job 66%
Has not 34
Source: GfKRoper/AP, November 2009.
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202 .862.5800 www.aei.org 2
Obama’s Marks . . . And Those of the Democratic
and Republican Parties
Q: Thinking about some issues, do you . . . ?
Approve of the way Barack Obama is handling . . .
November responses
52%
50%
44% 43% 42%
36%
31%
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202 .862.5800 www.aei.org 3
Ideology = Stable?
Ideological identification in the United States is fairly stable. More people call themselves conservatives than liberals. In
Gallup Organization surveys taken between January and September this year, slightly more people identified themselves
as conservatives than as moderates.
Q: How would you describe your political views . . . ?
50
Moderate
40
Conservative
30
20
Liberal
10
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Note: Data based of annual averages.
Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of January–September 2009.
Obama = Liberal?
Polls conducted in the fall show that a majority of Americans now say that the policies President Obama has pursued as
president have been mostly liberal. People are evenly divided about whether his views are too liberal for the country or
just about right. When asked whether his views are too liberal, too conservative, or just about right for them, a majority
describe them as “just about right.”
Q: Do you think . . . ?
October 2009 March 2009 November 2008
The policies of Barack Obama
has pursued as president
have been mostly liberal 54% 47% 43%
Mostly moderate 34 40 45
Mostly conservative 7 8 9
Note: In November 2008, the question wording was “Just your best guess, do you think the policies that Barack Obama will pursue as Presi-
dent will be mostly liberal, mostly moderate, or mostly conservative?”
Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of October 2009.
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202 .862.5800 www.aei.org 4
(continued from the previous page)
Q: Do you think . . . ?
November September April January
Obama’s views on most issues
are too liberal for you 40% 39% 33% 29%
Too conservative 7 5 4 4
About right 52 53 62 65
Source: ABC News/Washington Post, latest that of November 2009.
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202 .862.5800 www.aei.org 5
(continued from the previous page)
Marijuana Movement
Q: Do you think . . . ?
October 2009 October 1969
The use of marijuana should be made legal 44% 12%
No 54 84
Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of October 2009.
Q: Do you . . . ?
April 2009 June 1989
Favor stricter gun control laws in this country 51% 60%
Oppose 48 34
Source: For April 2009, ABC News/Washington Post. For June 1989, the Gallup Organization.
Q: Do you think . . . ?
May 2009 March 1996
Marriages between same-sex couples should
be recognized by the law as valid, with
the same rights as traditional marriages 40% 27%
Should not be valid 57 68
Note: In March 1996, the question wording was “Do you think marriages between homosexuals should or should not be recognized by the
law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of May 2009.
Source: CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, Source: Gallup/USA Today, Source: CNN/Opinion Research
October 2009. October 2009. Corporation, October 2009.
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202 .862.5800 www.aei.org 7
Hitting the Reset Button with Russia? Americans Aren’t So Sure
Skepticism of Russian intentions has returned.
50
40
Favorable attitude toward Russia
30
20
10 Unfavorable
0
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Note: November 2000 and March 2003 questions asked of a half sample. 1989 through 1992 questions used “Soviet Union” instead of “Russia”.
Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of February 2009.
Q: In general, do you . . . ?
August April May March
June 2009 2008 2002 1996 1995
Think of Russia as more of an
ally or more of an adversary 29% 19% 52% 48% 56%
More as an adversary 49 62 26 28 35
Note: In August 2008, the question was asked of registered voters.
Source: NBC/Wall Street Journal, latest that of June 2009.
In Russia, Restoration?
Vladimir Putin gets high marks from Russians, who tell pollsters that they prefer a strong hand to a democratic form of
government. Fifty-eight percent echo Putin’s belief that the demise of the Soviet Union is a great misfortune. A bare
majority in Russia endorses the change to a multiparty system, and half endorse the new market economy. Young people
are much more enthusiastic than older ones about the changes.
Q: Do you . . . ?
Approve of the way Vladimir Putin is handling
his job as prime minister 78%
Disapprove 16
Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, August–September 2009.
Q: Some feel that we should rely on a democratic form of government to solve our country’s problems. Others feel we
should rely on a leader with a strong hand to solve our country’s problems. What comes closer to your opinion?
We should rely on a democratic form of government 29%
We should rely on a leader with a strong hand 60
Note: In the spring of 1991, 51 percent wanted to rely on a democratic government, and 39 percent a leader with a strong hand. In five questions
since then, majorities have said they preferred a leader with a strong hand.
Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, August–September 2009.
(continued on the next page)
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202 .862.5800 www.aei.org 8
(continued from the previous page)
Q: For each statement please tell me whether you . . . ?
It is a great misfortune It is natural
that the Soviet Union for Russia to
no longer exists have an empire
Completely agree 30% 16%
Mostly agree 28 31
Mostly disagree 23 23
Completely disagree 15 12
Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, August–September 2009.
Q: After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, we changed from a country where there was just one party to a country
with a multiparty system. Overall do you . . . ?
Q: Again, thinking back to 1991, do you . . . ?
Approve of the change Approve that our country moved from
to a multiparty system 53% having a state-controlled economy
to having a market economy 50%
By age:
18–29 years 65% 63%
30–49 60 56
50–64 46 39
60+ 27 27
Note: Thirty-five percent disapproved of the change to a multiparty system. Forty-one percent disapproved of the change to a market economy.
Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, August–September 2009.
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202 .862.5800 www.aei.org 9