In a recent Zogby Interactive survey of adults nationwide, respondents were asked to choose a statement that came closest to their view on tax reduction. About 60% of the sample strongly or somewhat agreed that all Americans would benefit from drastically reduced taxes, while 36% of the respondents strongly or somewhat agreed that not all Americans would benefit from drastically reduced taxes. Less than 5% chose neither of the statements or “not sure.”

Significant differences were found between ideological groups. About 86% of conservatives strongly or somewhat agreed that all Americans would benefit from drastically reduced taxes, compared to 47% of moderates and 22% of liberals. Those without a college degree (66%) were more likely to see universal benefits in drastic tax reduction than those who are college-educated (51%). Along party lines, 59% of Democrats believe that drastically reduced taxes benefit only part of the population, in contrast to 15% of Republicans and 29% of Independents. Other groups who were more likely to agree with the all-embracing benefits of tax reduction are Protestants (69%),  gun owners (72%), respondents who have a child under 17 years old (69%) and those who shop at Wal-Mart at least a few times per month (73%).

Where do you stand on the issue of tax reduction? Do you believe that all Americans would benefit from tax reduction? If not, who do you think would benefit most from tax reduction? On a more personal level, how would tax reduction affect your life?

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According to Zogby’s most recent interactive survey results, President Barack Obama’s job approval rating has dropped to a record low of 45% among likely voters nationwide. About 51% of the respondents disapprove of his job as president.

Groups that are more likely to approve of his job as president are Democrats (84%), females (54%), African Americans (84%), liberals (94%), 18-to-29 year olds (57%), respondents who do NOT consider themselves members of the investor class (54%), and those who never shop at Wal-Mart (67%).

Groups that are more likely to disapprove of his job as president are Republicans (91%), males (60%), conservatives (95%), respondents who are married (59%), members of the investor class (65%), those who attend religious services at least once a week (63%), and those who shop at Wal-Mart every month (61%).

In another question, where respondents were asked “how would you rate Barack Obama’s job as president — excellent, good, fair or poor?”, 16% of the sample chose “Excellent”, 27% “Good”,11% “Fair” and 45% “Poor”. Within Democrats, 80% chose “Excellent” or “Good”, compared to only 7% of Republicans. Among those unaffiliated to either of the major parties, 35% rated the President’s job performance as “Excellent” or “Good”.

“None of these numbers looks counter-intuitive to me. Gallup, NBC, and Pew all have Obama at record lows. Rasmussen also shows low approval. Things are volatile out there and news travels fast. There is a lot of anxiety over healthcare,” said Zogby International President and CEO John Zogby. “The President let it get away from him and voters are scared right now. They are experiencing sacrifice overload and feel more threatened than empowered. The President is being forced to play defense and he is much better when he is in possession of the ball. But do not underestimate Obama. Last August he was toast.”

For Zogby’s latest press release on the survey results, please visit: http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1734

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We at Zogby always have a few questions on our surveys that you probably won’t find  anywhere else. While we (and most other surveys) always ask about age, income, gender, racial background, and  other basic demographics, we also ask about things like whether the respondent is a NASCAR fan and whether the respondent considers himself or herself a citizen of their town, their country, or the planet earth.  Another unique-to-Zogby question we ask has to do with how often survey-takers shop at Wal-Mart – weekly, a few times a month, one or two times a  year, or never. Our Wal-Mart question frequently provides us with interesting and unusual data, some of which shows up on this blog. We’ve posted previously on the  differences between Wal-Mart and Target America , and written about where people would shop if they could only shop at one store for the rest of their lives,  the relationship between vote choice and favorite store, and favorability of Wal-Mart compared to favorability of Target.

Wal-Mart has been in the news recently for weathering the recession better than many other retailers, perhaps because their low prices are attracting new customers who might be conscious of price for the first time.  A recent NY Times article about the chain notes that “Wal-Mart once again proved itself the chain best able to capitalize on the new frugality” and that “Wal-Mart exceeded analysts’ expectations”.  Another article in the NY Times mentions that a goal for Wal-Mart is to “hang on to its millions of new customers for the long haul” . The article quotes a retail analyst claiming that “wealthier customers are rediscovering Wal-Mart. .. no one is feeling as rich as they used to. All of a sudden, Wal-Mart looks a lot  better.”

Our own data support the idea that frequent Wal-Mart shoppers  can be found in every income group surveyed, and  not just in lower and lower-middle income groups. In an interactive Zogby poll of all adults taken in February of this year, 56.7% of those with a yearly household income between $50,000 and $75,000 shop at Wal-Mart either weekly or several times a month. Also fitting our definition of frequent Wal-Mart shoppers are 53.1% of those in households making between $75,000 and $100,00/year, 55.7% of those in households making under $25,000/year, 55.5% of those in households making between $25,000 and $35,000/year, and 60.2% of those in households making between $35,000 and $50,000/year. In fact, the only income group where frequent Wal-Mart shoppers are outnumbered by infrequent shoppers and those who never shop at Wal-Mart  are those in households making over $100,00/year – only 29.6% of this group shops at Wal-Mart weekly or several times a month.

Has the nation’s struggling economy caused you to shop more than usual at Wal-Mart? Is there something other than prices that affects your decision to shop or not shop at Wal-Mart? If you never or only rarely shop at Wal-Mart, under what circumstances would you consider shopping there more ?

Katy consumption, culture, economics, lifestyles, shopping economy, recession, shopping, Wal-Mart, zogby

Quick, name a product appealing enough that both Wal-Mart and Starbucks introduced it after being “inundated” with customer requests for this allegedly  more environmental and healthy alternative  to a staple of the American diet.  And here’s another hint: despite the preferences of these stores’ consumers, some doubt that this alternative is a substantive improvement over the original product.

The correct answer is hormone-free milk, or milk that is certified to be free of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH).   An article in the Christian Science Monitor notes that rBGH, which mimics a naturally occurring hormone found in dairy cows, is “linked by some to health problems in humans when ingested.” Concern over these effects is presumably what lead consumers to lobby Wal-Mart to change their store brand of milk to rGBH-free and for Starbucks to only serve rBGH free milk in stores. While hormone-free milk differs from organic milk (organic milk must meet additional production standards),  it can still cost up to $1.50 more, per gallon, than conventional milk.   But not everyone is convinced that rGBH is dangerous or that hormone-free milk is a major improvement – here is one CNN writer casting doubt on the scientific evidence against rGBH being harmful.

When we asked Americans in an interactive poll last summer whether they cared if the milk they drank was hormone free,  about 21.5% of those surveyed  said they always drank hormone-free milk and 41.1% answered that “milk is milk.” The remaining respondents said they tried to drink hormone-free milk but will drink conventional milk as well.

Our survey results show that over half of those surveyed make some kind of effort to drink hormone-free milk instead of regular milk. Do you agree with those who feel hormone-free milk is a major improvement, environmental or otherwise, over conventional milk? Or do you think that “milk is milk”?

Katy consumption, environment, lifestyles consumption, environment, health, summer, Wal-Mart

We are excited to welcome guest blogger Dante Chinni to The Way We’ll Be. Dante is a veteran political reporter and also directs the Patchwork Nation project hosted at the Christian Science Monitor. Dante wrote the following blog post, also published by the CSM, about differences in shopping habits across America.

The Differences Between Target America and Wal-Mart America

As the economy continues on what appears to be a downward trajectory, the American public will almost certainly be spending more time visiting bargain retailers. But when they do, they will not be going to the same chain stores.

There is a retail divide in America, and it is very visible among Patchwork Nation’s community types, according to an analysis of a postelection poll from Zogby International about store preferences. Specifically, the analysis shows a fairly clear demarcation between might be called Wal-Mart America and Target America.

Read more…

Katy politics economy, international, lifestyle, media, politics, shopping, Wal-Mart, war, work, zogby