In every crowd, there is always one person that everybody else sees as just lucky. In my neighborhood, that was a boy named Eddie. He was from Brooklyn and only lived in my hometown of Utica, N.Y., long enough to gain that reputation for good fortune.

After he pitched a no-hitter and hit a home run in a Little League game, we dismissed his achievements by saying that the other team was lousy, and that the wind carried his home run over the fence. Our coach would have none of our guff, so he sat us down and said that Eddie did what he did, because he is obviously a talented baseball player. We needed to get over our envy and move on. The same can be said of all those who are now griping about Barack Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Read all of John Zogby’s thoughts on Obama winning the Peace Prize at Forbes.com.

Paul John Zogby, international, politics John Zogby, Obama, peace, zogby

To the surprise of many, President Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The reaction at home has been mixed, with criticisms being raised not only by conservative but also liberal writers. Reactions abroad appear to be following the same line, with some writers suggesting that the president should not have accepted the prize.

Why do you think the President was awarded the Prize? Do you believe that it enhances the prestige of the President and/or the prize? Do you think it helps sustain and enhance the world’s peace?

Zeljka future, global issues, international, peace, politics Obama, peace, war

In his recent speech to the United Nations, President Obama said, “yearning for peace is universal”. However, according to Zogby Interactive data, a majority of Americans believe that, at the very least, yearning for war is, likewise, universal. According to our July 2008 poll of American adults, 58% of adults agree that “waging war is a part of human nature”, compared to 32% who disagree. Although Republicans are much more likely to hold this view than Democrats (75% vs. 41%), First Globals™ (18 – 29 year olds), the age-group most likely to have voted for Obama, is also the generation most likely (63%) to believe that humans are naturally violent.

This runs contrary to the view of young adults as naïve and idealistic and shows them to be in some ways perhaps more cynical than older generations such as President Obama’s. Do you think that First Globals’ apparent cynicism could play a role in the First Globals’ support for the President?

Zeljka international, peace, politics, war first globals, Generations, Obama, peace, politics, war, zogby

With all the recent hoopla surrounding the releases of The Beatles Rock Band video game and the Fab Four’s re-mastered back catalogue, you would think that every single breathing soul alive worships at the altar of John, Paul, George and Ringo.

However, according to a Zogby Interactive survey conducted last week, about one in five people actually say they do not like The Beatles. OK, so maybe that’s not an earth-shattering number, but still it’s substantial enough to warrant a closer look. Just who are these blasphemous people that don’t dig peace, love, and reenacted acid trips? I had to find out.

Well, I suppose we should start with the obvious. Republicans and Conservatives (30% each) are the two most likely groups to say they do not like our beloved Beatles, whereas Liberals (9%) and Democrats (14%) are among the least likely to say so. Maybe if we asked about Ted Nugent or the Charlie Daniels Band things would have shaken out differently.

It should come as no surprise that the Woodstock generation (18%) is the least likely age cohort to say they don’t like The Beatles, but I found it somewhat surprising that the Privates (25%) and the Nikes (25%) were dead even in their disdain, and that First Globals™ were not far behind (23%). Perhaps, as the decades roll on the band’s influence on the younger generations has waned a bit, or maybe the cynicism of said generations has run so amuck that they can’t even deem it cool to call themselves fans of probably the greatest band that ever existed.

Another semi-obvious tidbit, at least to me, is that college graduates (18%) are less likely than those without college degrees (25%) to say they like The Beatles. Because I mean really, if you weren’t actually alive during the comeuppance of The Beatles, chances are you discovered them in some black light illuminated dorm room whilst having your mind blown by “Across the Universe.”

In keeping with The Beatles theme of world-wide harmony, respondents who consider themselves residents of the planet earth (11%) are much less likely to say they don’t like The Beatles than are those who identify their residence as their city or town (24%) or America (25%), but the lads’ message doesn’t appear to translate evenly among the races, as we find that African-Americans (28%) and Hispanics (24%) are more likely than whites (20%) and Asians (16%) to not dig the vibes the band is laying down.

And finally while those who practice Transcendental Meditation were admittedly underrepresented, we find that Protestants (24%) and Catholics (22%) are more likely to dislike The Beatles than are Jewish respondents (12%) and followers of other religions (15%), as are Born Again Christians (28%) vs. Non-Born Again Christians (20%). Must have been all that satanic backwards message stuff.

- Post contributed by Phil Vanno, a Writer/Editor at Zogby International who once listened to “Strawberry Fields Forever” 50 times in a row and considered walking down the aisle to “All You Need is Love.” Phil’s opinion in no way represents that of Zogby International.

ZogbyFeaturedContributor Uncategorized Beatles, first globals, Generations, international, peace, race, religion, video, war, zogby

We recently included several winning Top Question Tuesday survey questions on a recent interactive survey. Stay tuned to the blog as we’ll be reporting the results of these questions here over the next several weeks!

One question included on this survey asked whether the respondent agreed or disagreed that any state or region had a right to peaceably secede and become an independent republic. Overall, 35% of those surveyed agreed that a state or region had a right to peaceably secede, while 52% disagreed, and 13% were not sure. Groups that were more likely to agree were conservatives (49%), Protestants (40%), those  between 18 and 29 (45%), McCain voters (46%), and Republicans (43%).

Are there any circumstances where you would support a state or region “peacably” seceding? Do you believe it is possible that a secession attempt could be truly peaceable?

Katy Uncategorized peace, politics, polls, Top Question Tuesday

Over the next few months, Congress and the nation will confront one of our most intractable issues: reforming the nation’s health care system.  However, will this debate really be about making us healthier, or is it just about how and how much we will spend on what we define as health care.
Journalist Ezra Klein explores these issues in a piece titled Wealth-Care Reform . Here are some excerpts:

“Health-care reform is, in practice, health-care-system-spending reform. Politicians promise that their plans will “bend the curve” and pursue “universal coverage.” They do not promise the plans will make everyone healthier… The health of the nation, as opposed to its ability to pay hospital bills, is hardly under consideration.”
“The purpose of health reform, in other words, is to pay for health care — not to improve the health of the population…The problem is that they have not settled into a peaceful coexistence. Rather, the spending conversation has consumed the health conversation. It is not hard to understand why. ‘Somebody makes money taking care of a person once they’re diabetic,’ says Shannon Brownlee, author of the book Overtreated…In 2007, we spent $2.2 trillion on health care. A mere 3 percent of that went to measures meant to improve public health. Indeed, lots of interest groups stand to lose money if society becomes more concerned about health.”
“What we need, says health-care researcher Michael McGinnis, is a willingness to see health-care dollars as health dollars. The question should not be how much health care we can buy. It should be how much health we can buy. Whether that health comes through a doctor’s office or a preschool is immaterial.”

How much emphasis should health care reform put on prevention? Is it hopeless to believe that promoting health can become the real focus of changes in both health care policy and practice, and in personal lifestyle choices?

Paul Uncategorized, economics, health, politics health, lifestyle, peace

We’re very excited to see that a record number of you voted in last week’s Top Question Tuesday poll! The winning question asked about the effectiveness of tea parties. We’ll put that question on an upcoming interactive survey and blog about the results soon.

This week’s user-submitted survey questions are below. The questions are shortened to save space on our blog post, but these are the basic ideas. Take a look though and then vote for which question you’d most like to see on the next Zogby Interactive survey. As a reminder, if you’d like to submit a question to be considered for a  Zogby survey, use the “contact us” box on the right of the page. And if you’d like to join Zogby’s interactive panel to answer questions similar to these, click here.

1.    Regardless of your political affiliation, would you be very concerned, somewhat concerned, a little concerned or not at all concerned about having one political party in charge of  the House, Senate, and Executive branch of government?

2.    Should the United States send a military presence to the coast of Somalia to prevent pirates from hijacking ships?

3.    Do you agree or disagree that any state or region has the right to peaceably secede and become an independent republic?

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Katy Uncategorized military, peace, Top Question Tuesday, zogby

What gives one country right to intervene in other country’s internal affairs? Is it a pursuit of self-interest or protection of the indigenous population? Zogby data show that Americans of different ages significantly disagree in this respect.

For example, First Globals™ are much more likely than other age groups to say that “protection of human rights” gives America a right to intervene in other countries’ foreign affairs, with 48% of First Globals™ choosing that as a legitimate reason to intervene compared to only 23% of Americans over 65. They are also the generation least likely to say that “protection of America’s own interests” gives the U.S. a right to intervene in other countries’ affairs, with only 28% of them recognizing such right compared to 44% of Americans over 65.

It appears that First Globals have less respect for country’s boundaries – feeling, to a lesser extent than other generations, that countries are not allowed to act in their own self-interest or ignore what is happening in other places. If First Globals™ keep these views as they grow older, once agreed-upon principle of sovereignty appears to be destined for oblivion. Do you believe that that will, in fact, happen? And, in your view, is that going to make the world more or less peaceful?

Zeljka first globals, future, global issues, international, peace, politics, war first globals, Generations, peace, zogby

Is the United Nations a thing of the past or an institution of a growing importance? Some argue that its importance is rising because the world is becoming more globalized, while others say that unilateral actions by major powers have diminished its authority. Some people see the UN as a place where conflicts can be resolved peacefully while others see it as institution isolated from democratic feedback.

Our data show that there exist generational differences in these perceptions as well. Thus, when presented with two statements about the function of the United Nations, “the United Nations has been reduced in its influence and is less relevant today in global matters,” and “the United Nations is needed now more than ever to represent a global perspective on issues that arise,” First Globals™ are the most likely of any generation to agree with the second statement and the least likely of any generation to agree with the first statement. Among First Globals™, 57.4% agree that “the United Nations is needed now more than ever,” compared to 33% of the combined remaining generations. And 34.1% of First Globals™ agree that the “United Nations has been reduced in influence and is less relevant,” compared to about 55% of remaining generations.

Do you think as First Globals™ grow older and move into the workforce their belief that the UN is needed will remain? Do you think we will see the United Nations play a more active role in managing global conflicts and dealing with global issues in the future? Do you agree with the First Globals™ and others who say that the United Nations is needed now more than ever?

Zeljka future, global issues first globals, future, Generations, global issues, peace, work

Much has been said about how Barack Obama may be able to change the world’s image of the U.S., especially in places where we have not been seen as a friendly nation.

John Zogby’s current column on Forbes.com addresses that issue, and he sees reasons for optimism, especially among young adults. Some of the cause is Obama, but more important is the world view of young adults (First Globals™).

The two regions discussed are Latin America, where Zogby International conducted a poll this month of 18-29-year-olds, and the Middle East, where we have a long history of polling. The Latin America survey of First Globals™ also included the U.S., and found strong sentiment for reconciliation in the Western Hemisphere.

Here is some of what Zogby wrote: “One could dismiss all of these opinions as the whims of youth that are very likely to change. However, these First Globals™ are a new breed raised with the Internet and nearly unlimited access to the world. Their outlook is inherently outward, and the forces that brought them there will only grow stronger. Reconciliation with our southern neighbors is in their interest, and that is unlikely to change.”

As for the Middle East, Zogby encourages greater opportunities for First Globals™ in both the U.S. and the Middle East to travel abroad and learn first-hand about each others’ nations and cultures. “Participants asked me what we can do to improve relations with the Middle East. My response was that we should push for more visas for U.S. First Globals™ to visit the Middle East, and for young adults there to come to the U.S. We must nurture the interest they have in each other and all global citizens. Previous generations have not done enough to reconcile national differences and conflicts. Let’s help a new generation achieve more.”

What do you think about whether First Globals™ and whether they will lead the way to a more peaceful world?

Paul first globals, global issues culture, first globals, Generations, history, international, internet, John Zogby, middle east, Obama, peace, travel, war, zogby