The New York Times recently reported on the results of a US Department of Agriculture study which found that 49 million Americans are now experiencing “food insecurity”. The number, which represents the highest number since the study began tracking fourteen years ago, represents people who are considered either “struggling households with.. very low food security, meaning lack of money forced members to skip meals, cut portions or otherwise forgo food at some point in the year” or those who get enough to eat only by eating cheaper or less varied foods, relying on food stamps, or visiting food pantries and soup kitchens. The Times quotes analysts as saying the unemployment rate, possibly along with higher food prices, is largely responsible for the rise.

We’ve been paying attention to this issue, as well. In September, we asked our survey respondents whether they strongly agreed, somewhat agreed, somewhat disagreed, or strongly disagreed with the statement “I fear I will not be able to provide basic needs such as food or shelter for myself or my family in the future”. Overall, 34% of our sample agreed with this statement, with 9% of our sample strongly agreeing and 25% somewhat agreeing. 25% somewhat disagreed and 38% strongly disagreed. Not surprisingly, those in the lowest income brackets were much more likely to strongly or somewhat agree that they feared they would be unable to provide basic needs for themselves or their family. For those in households earning less than $25,000/year, 22% strongly agreed and 34% somewhat agreed that they feared their ability to provide basic needs. For those in households earning between $25,000 and $35,000/year, 15% strongly agreed and 28% somewhat agreed that they feared their ability to provide basic needs. Those with only a high school education were also more likely to fear their ability to provide, with 12% strongly agreeing and 27% somewhat agreeing.

Within other demographics – gender, age group, ideology, party ID, and whether one lives in a large city, small city, suburb or rural area – the responses largely mirrored the responses of the overall group.

What do you make of the rise in hunger and food insecurity in the U.S? Do you believe the number of those in need of food or food-related assistance is likely to stay high in the next few years? Do you fear your own ability to put food on the table for yourself or your family?

Katy Uncategorized hunger, lifestyle, polls

Courtesy of our friends at The Onion, we are pleased to bring you new results from a truly groundbreaking  Zogby poll!

Poll: 100% Of Grandsons Talented

November 9, 2009 | 14.02

ATLANTA—A Zogby poll of 1,542 American grandparents published Monday found that grandsons were described as “very” to “extremely” talented by 1,542 of the respondents. “Participants in the poll were emphatic in their descriptions of the talents of grandsons in fields as diverse as advertising and sales, choral performance, baseball, talking, crawling, making their beds, video games, and instructing their elders on proper cell-phone use,” pollster Tom Waterton said. “In addition, an overwhelming percentage of grandchildren were described as outgoing, sharp, and looking just like Uncle Andy, you remember Uncle Andy, he was always up to something, too bad he passed so young, he would have loved the grandchild in question.” Sources at Zogby admitted that the survey was incomplete, as several hundred pollsters are still unable to get their assigned grandparents off the phone.

Feel free to leave your own feelings about your talented grandsons in the comments!

Katy Uncategorized polls, satire, video, zogby

The latest Zogby approval numbers for Obama are out and show Obama’s overall job approval rating at 49%, a number unchanged from the last time we asked about Obama’s job approval three weeks ago on October 19. While ratings of Obama among core supporters such as First Globals™, Democrats, and Liberals remain high, ratings among independents have dipped slightly, from 47% approval on September 28, to 43% on October 19, to 40% on our most recent survey. Pollster John Zogby notes that “inside this poll are warning signs for the President…given his drop among independents, who our polling finds include many conservatives, the President has little slack to give from his base.”

The complete press release can be read here. What are your feelings on these numbers? Should Obama be worried about the decline in approval among independents if his overall approval remains steady?

Katy first globals first globals, John Zogby, Obama, politics, polls, war, zogby

We recently included several winning Top Question Tuesday selections on an interactive poll. Stay tuned to this blog as we’ll be releasing the results over the next several weeks! And don’t forget to submit your own nominations for Top Question Tuesday using the box on the right of this blog.

One question we asked concerned respondents’ feelings about a potential link between cell phones and cancer.  The question noted that “some scientists suggest there is no link between cell phone usage and cancer, while other scientists argue there is a link. How concerned are you that long-term cell phone usage can cause cancer?”.

Overall, 42% of the sample was concerned (10% very concerned, 32% somewhat concerned), and 56% of the sample was not concerned (36% not very concerned, 20% not at all concerned).  Young people were slightly more average than likely to not be concerned, with 62% of those 18-29 saying they were not very or not at all  that long-term cellphone usage can cause cancer. Those who described themselves as very cosnservative were also more likely than average to not be concerned, with 63% of this group saying they were not very or not at all concerned.

Liberals (46% ) and  females (45%) were the  few groups that were more likely than other groups to be concerned about links between cellphones and cancer.  However, even these two groups had the majority of their respondents say they were not concerned.

How concerned are you about a potential link between cell phones and cancer? How about concern for your kids, many of whom may have had cell phones since a young age?  Do you believe the scientific evidence is currently strong enough to either prove or disprove a connection?

Katy health, technology elections, health, lifestyle, technology, Top Question Tuesday

We recently included several winning Top Question Tuesday selections on an interactive poll. Stay tuned to this blog as we’ll be releasing the results over the next several weeks! And don’t forget to submit your own nominations for Top Question Tuesday using the box on the right of this blog.

One question asked whether Americans should be allowed to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes. Overall, 68% of the sample believed yes,  Americans  should be allowed to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes, while 22% of the sample believed they should not, and 10% were not sure.

Groups that were more likely than average to say yes included those 18-29 (83%), progressives (96%), liberals (92%), and Democrats (83%). Groups that were more likely than average to say no included conservatives (37%),  very conservatives (49%), and Republicans (37%). However, even most of  these groups had more respondents answer yes than no; in fact, the very conservatives were the only group in our survey that had more people answer no than yes.

What are your feelings on medical marijuana? Why should people be allowed or not allowed to smoke for medicinal purposes?  Does it surprise you that majorities of most groups in America believe people should be allowed to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes, but relatively few locations have laws which permit this? Is this likely to change in the future?

Katy health, politics culture, elections, future, health, politics, Top Question Tuesday

We recently included several winning Top Question Tuesday selections on an interactive poll. Stay tuned to this blog as we’ll be releasing the results over the next several weeks! And don’t forget to submit your own nominations for Top Question Tuesday using the box on the right of this blog.

One question asked people how strongly they agreed or disagreed with the following statement: “I am angry at the U.S. government over the current state of the economy.” Overall, 49% strongly agreed, 27% somewhat agreed, 16% somewhat disagreed, and 6% strongly disagreed with this statement.

Groups that were more likely to strongly agree were those over 65 (58%),  those living in rural areas (59%), conservatives (71%) and very conservatives (82%).  Groups that were more likely to somewhat or strongly disagree were those 18-29  (33% somewhat or strongly disagreed, compared to 22% of the overall population),  those with a college degree  (31%), liberals (43%), and progressives (40%).

Are you surprised by these results? Do you believe anger at the US government over the state of the economy is likely to increase or decrease in the coming year?

Katy Uncategorized economy, elections, Top Question Tuesday

We recently included several winning Top Question Tuesday selections on an interactive poll. Stay tuned to this blog as we’ll be releasing the results over the next several weeks! And don’t forget to submit your own nominations for Top Question Tuesday using the box on the right of this blog.

One question asked whether respondents planned to be vaccinated against the H1N1 swine flu virus this year. Overall, 1% of the respondents had already been vaccinated, 31% said they planned to be vaccinated, 54% did not plan to be vaccinated, and 15% were not sure.

Groups that were more likely than average to say they planned to be vaccinated were  those with a college education or higher (36% planned to be vaccinated), those who live in large cities (36%), liberals (42%),  and those over aged 65 years old (38%). However, no demographic subgroup had more than 50% of respondents planning to be vaccinated, and liberals were the only group where those who said they would  be vaccinated outnumbered those who said they would not.

Do you plan on being vaccinated this year? What factors are affecting your decision? Why do you think so many people do not plan to be vaccinated?

Katy Uncategorized education, elections, health, polls, Top Question Tuesday

We recently included several winning Top Question Tuesday selections on an interactive poll. Stay tuned to this blog as we’ll be releasing the results over the next several weeks! And don’t forget to submit your own nominations for Top Question Tuesday using the box on the right of this blog.

One question asked respondents if they couldn’t live in the US or US territories anymore, which area of the world would they choose for their new home. Overall, 24% of those surveyed selected Australia/New Zealand, 19% selected Canada, 17% said Western Europe, 16% were not sure, and 9% selected the Caribbean. All other options (Central America, Mexico, South America, North Africa, Southern Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Antarctica) received less than 3% of the total.

Age, race, gender, education and whether one lived in a large city, small city, suburb or rural area had minimal impact on the region or country selected. Progressives and liberals were more likely than average to favor Canada, with 36% of progressives and 33% of liberals selecting this country. Conservatives and very conservatives were more likely than average to favor Australia/New Zealand, with 38% of conservatives and 40% of very conservatives selecting this region. This pattern was also seen with Democrats and Republicans, with 30% of Democrats selecting Canada and 36% of Republicans selecting Australia/New Zealand.

If you could no longer live in the US, where would you move and why?

Katy global issues, international education, elections, global issues, lifestyles, middle east, race, Top Question Tuesday

Just in time for Halloween, here are some statistics about Americans’ beliefs on things that go bump in the night, courtesy of a recent Zogby/Animal Planet survey .

- More than one third of those surveyed (39%) said they have seen a ghost or know someone who has. Fifty-four percent have never seen a ghost before, while eight percent were unsure.

- When asked what legendary creature they would like to see proven as real, thirty-six percent of people said they would like Bigfoot to be real, while 21% said ghosts. Twenty-seven percent said various other creatures, including vampires and werewolves.

-About one in five respondents (21%) said they have been visited by a dead friend or relative, while 72% said they haven’t been and 8% were unsure.

- When respondents were asked what creature they would least like to meet in a dark alley, werewolf topped the list with 20%. Thirteen percent said vampire, and 12% said zombie.

-A surprising 35% percent of people said they believe in aliens, while 40% said they don’t, and 25% were unsure.

Are you a believer in any of the paranormal creatures or activities discussed above? Why or why not?

Katy culture holidays, paranormal, zogby

We recently included several winning Top Question Tuesday selections on an interactive poll. Stay tuned to this blog as we’ll be releasing the results over the next several weeks! And don’t forget to submit your own nominations for Top Question Tuesday using the box on the right of this blog.

One question asked whether respondents pay more, less, or about the same amount of attention to local political races (such as mayoral elections) compared to national political races. Overall, 8% of the respondents said they paid more attention to local races, 39% said they paid less attention to local races, and 52% paid the same amount of attention to local and national races.

Results did not vary widely across most demographics. Those with a college degree or more were slightly more likely (44%) to say they paid less attention to local political races, as were those living in the suburbs (45%), and those who are single (51%). No group was significantly more likely to say they paid more attention to local political races.

How much attention do you give to local political races? Are certain types of local races more interesting to you than others? Do you feel there is a strong relationship between local politics in your area and national politics?

Katy politics elections, politics, race, Top Question Tuesday