January 9-13, 2008: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press Political Survey—Nationwide Poll on Poverty, Government Benefits, and the Importance of Increased Government Attention to the Problems of Poor and Needy People.
“(I’d like to ask you some questions about priorities for President (George W.) Bush and Congress this year (2008). As I read from a list, tell me if you think the item that I read should be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important or should it not be done?) Should…dealing with the problems of poor and needy people be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important, or should it not be done?”
51% Top priority
37% Important but lower priority
7% Not too important
2% Should not be done
3% Don۪t know/Refused
Subpopulation/Note: Asked of Form 2 half sample.
Survey by Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Methodology: Interviewing conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, January 9 – January 13, 2008 and based on 1,515 telephone interviews. Sample: national adult. [USPSRA.012408A.R28OF2]
Formal Citation
Pew Research Center for the People , Jan, 2008. Retrieved Sep-9-2010 from the iPOLL Databank, The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut. http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/data_access/ipoll/ipoll.html
“(I’m going to read you some pairs of statements that will help us understand how you feel about a number of things. As I read each pair, tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own views–even if neither is exactly right.) First statement: Poor people today have it easy because they can get government benefits without doing anything in return. Second statement: Poor people have hard lives because government benefits don’t go far enough to help them live decently.”