Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Search results for: “partisan divide”

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    Public Priorities: Deficit Rising, Terrorism Slipping

    Overview As the 2012 State of the Union approaches, the public continues to give the highest priority to economic issues. Fully 86% say that strengthening the economy should be a top priority for the president and Congress this year, and 82% rate improving the job situation as a top priority. None of the other 20 […]

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    The Lost Decade of the Middle Class

    Chapter 1: Overview As the 2012 presidential candidates prepare their closing arguments to America’s middle class, they are courting a group that has endured a lost decade for economic well-being. Since 2000, the middle class has shrunk in size, fallen backward in income and wealth, and shed some—but by no means all—of its characteristic faith […]

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    Chapter 4. Rating Countries and Institutions

    China’s image has grown more negative over the last year in the U.S., Japan and parts of Europe. However, China continues to receive relatively positive reviews in Russia and Brazil, as well as in several predominantly Muslim countries. Across the 21 nations surveyed, the median percentage with a positive view of China (49%) is very […]

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    Chapter 6: Social and Political Attitudes

    Asian Americans, as a whole, are more politically liberal than the general public and tilt more toward the Democratic Party than toward the Republican Party. But Asians who are evangelical Protestants tend to favor the GOP, and they are more likely than other Asian-American religious groups overall to say they are politically conservative. Asian Americans’ […]

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    Section 6: Religion and Social Values

    The United States continues to be a highly religious nation. Most Americans say they belong to a particular faith and large percentages agree with statements about key religious beliefs and behaviors. About three-quarters of the public (76%) say prayer is an important part of their daily life, while an identical percentage agrees that “we will […]

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    Section 2: Religion and Politics

    Americans have long been comfortable with religion having a role in politics. A sizable majority continues to say it is important for the president to have strong religious beliefs. And a majority says they are not bothered when politicians talk about their religion. At the same time, however, there is widespread opposition to churches and […]

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    Chapter 6: Political and Civic Life

    More so than the general public, Asian Americans prefer an activist government, approve of President Obama’s job performance, are satisfied with the direction of the country and identify with the Democratic rather than the Republican Party. However, their political views are similar to those of the general public on two high-profile social issues—homosexuality and abortion. […]

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    Section 2: Demographics and American Values

    Even as party divisions over values have expanded over the last quarter century, gaps between other groups have remained relatively unchanged. Across the 48 values items tracked regularly since 1987, average gender, age, race, education, income and religiosity differences have remained remarkably stable. Several of these demographic characteristics are associated with significant differences in values, […]

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    Section 9: Trends in Party Affiliation

    The number of political independents has continued to grow, as both parties have lost ground among the public. Based on surveys conducted this year, 38% describe themselves as independents, up from 32% in 2008 and 30% in 2004. The proportion of independents is now higher than at any point in more than two decades. Looking […]