July 31, 2010

Released: March 11, 2010

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Zogby Interactive:  95% of U.S. Adults Say It's Important to Reduce National Debt, But Are Split On Tax Cuts & Spending to Create Jobs


65% Say Cut Loopholes & Establish Minimum Corporate Tax

UTICA, New York - U.S. adults are nearly unanimous in believing that reducing the national debt is important, but are divided on related issues such as tax cuts and whether the federal government should spend more infrastructure projects to create jobs and prepare for the future.

The results come from a Zogby Interactive survey of 2,068 U.S. adults conducted from Feb. 17-19, 2010. The poll has a margin of error of +/-2.2%. 

Importance of Reducing U.S. Debt

Ninety-five percent of U.S. adults say it is important to reduce the debt, including 66% who say it is very important. Percentages who say debt reduction is very important are higher among Republicans (89%) and independents (71%) than among Democrats (44%). However, another 48% of Democrats say it is somewhat important. Numbers are similar for self-identified liberals, with a total of 91% saying debt reduction is very or somewhat important.

How to Cut the Debt

We offered 11 different ways in which the national debt might be reduced. Respondents could choose more than one. Here are the results:

Which of these actions should the federal government take to reduce the national debt?

Action to Reduce U.S. Debt

%

Cut tax loopholes & establish minimum tax for corporations

65%

Reduce foreign aid

60%

Reduce government employees

56%

Increase taxes on families earning more $250,000 per year

43%

Speed up troop withdrawal from Iraq & Afghanistan

42%

Reduce military spending

35%

Reduce spending for infrastructure projects

24%

Reduce Medicaid benefits

22%

Reduce Social Security benefits

14%

Reduce Medicare benefits

14%

Reduce scientific and health research

13%

None of these & not sure

6%
 

We found consistently large differences based on party affiliation and political ideology, and some based on age smaller differences based on age. For example, Democrats were much more likely to cite cutting corporate taxes (87%), increasing taxes on family incomes greater than $250,000 80%), troop withdrawal (68%) and reduced military spending (59%).  Republicans were much more likely to favor reduced spending on foreign aid (83%) and infrastructure projects (47%). More Republicans were also willing to cut Medicaid (39%), Social Security (24%), Medicare (24%) and spending on science and health research (26%.)  First GlobalsTM born since 1979 were slightly more likely than the entire sample to favor cuts in Social Security (24%) and Medicare (20%).

Whether to Spend on Nation's Infrastructure

We offered two statement agreement choices about whether it was better to increase government spending on infrastructure projects or limit that spending. Here are the two statements and the percentages choosing each.

44% agreed that: We should increase government spending on infrastructure projects (such as for transportation, technology, energy and communications) to help create jobs and prepare for the future. 

43% agreed that: We should limit government spending on new infrastructure projects to help control and reduce the federal deficit and wasteful spending.

Six percent chose neither and 7% were not sure.

The totals for Democrats and Republicans were mirror opposites: 80% of Democrats would increase infrastructure spending and 76% of Republicans would limit it. Independents weighed toward limiting that spending, 51% to 35%. Age was a factor, with 51% of First GlobalsTM choosing more infrastructure spending and 53% of those 65 and older wanting to limit it. A small majority of college graduates (54%) want more infrastructure spending, compared to 38% of those without a college degree.

Income Tax Cuts

Respondents were given three statements to choose from regarding income tax cuts. The table below provides the statements and percentages choosing each for all respondents and by party affiliation.

Statement.

All adults

Democrats

Republicans

Independents

Federal income taxes should be cut for everyone, regardless of income.

38%

6%

76%

44%

Federal income taxes should be cut for all except families earning more than $250,000 per year.

25%

41%

12%

19%

Given the federal deficit and the cost of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the federal government can't afford  any income tax cuts.

30%

47%

9%

30%

Neither & not sure

7%

6%

4%

7%
 

Pollster John Zogby: "Everybody wants to cut the national debt, but there is little agreement about how to get there; or whether the government needs to spend to boost the economy or whether taxes should be cut. So it's no wonder we have gridlock in Washington."

(3/11/2010)


Tags: US | Economy | Culture



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