June 23 – 27, 2012: Democracy Corps Poll—Nationwide poll on perceptions of low income individuals and programs for the working poor.
(I’m going to read you some statements that some people may make in favor of programs that benefit the working poor. After I read each one, please tell me how convincing a reason it is to support programs that benefit the working poor–is it a very convincing reason, somewhat convincing, just a little convincing, or not at all a convincing reason to support programs that benefit the working poor.)…We need to be wise about how we spend our money, but it is morally wrong to cut programs like food stamps, that benefit those who are genuinely in need. We simply cannot let people starve.
44% Very convincing
27% Somewhat convincing
10% A little convincing
15% Not at all convincing
4% Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones. [USGREEN.12DCJUL.R76]
(Now for something different. How convincing a reason is the following to not support programs that benefit the working poor?…Very convincing, somewhat convincing, a little convincing, not at all convincing)…Extending food stamps and unemployment benefits were meant to be just a temporary measure in (Barack) Obama’s stimulus program. This can’t go on forever. It hasn’t worked, it increased our debt burden, and we can’t afford more stimulus now.
28% Very convincing
27% Somewhat convincing
11% A little convincing
30% Not at all convincing
4% Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones. [USGREEN.12DCJUL.R79]
(I’m going to read you some statements that some people may make in favor of programs that benefit the working poor. After I read each one, please tell me how convincing a reason it is to support programs that benefit the working poor–is it a very convincing reason, somewhat convincing, just a little convincing, or not at all a convincing reason to support programs that benefit the working poor.)…Programs like food stamps, Medicaid, unemployment insurance and the child tax credit benefit millions of kids, who are poor due to no fault of their own.
38% Very convincing
31% Somewhat convincing
12% A little convincing
15% Not at all convincing
5% Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones. [USGREEN.12DCJUL.R75]
(I’m going to read you some statements that some people may make in favor of programs that benefit the working poor. After I read each one, please tell me how convincing a reason it is to support programs that benefit the working poor–is it a very convincing reason, somewhat convincing, just a little convincing, or not at all a convincing reason to support programs that benefit the working poor.)…We need to reduce our deficits, but if we can afford subsidies for oil companies and massive tax breaks and loopholes for the wealthiest, we can afford to take care of the poorest citizens who need it most.
32% Very convincing
26% Somewhat convincing
11% A little convincing
26% Not at all convincing
5% Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones. [USGREEN.12DCJUL.R77]
(Now, I’d like to rate your feelings toward some people and organizations, with one hundred meaning a very warm, favorable feeling, zero meaning a very cold, unfavorable feeling, and fifty meaning not particularly warm or cold. You can use any number from zero to one hundred, the higher the number the more favorable your feelings are toward that person or organization. If you have no opinion or never heard of that person or organization, please say so.)…The working poor…Give…the working poor, with 100 meaning a very warm, favorable feeling, zero meaning a very cold, unfavorable feeling, and 50 meaning not particularly warm or cold. (If Don’t know, ask:) Would you say you are unable to give an opinion of…the working poor, or have you never heard of…the working poor?
50% Warm 51-100
15% Cool 0-49
16% Not particularly warm or cold 50
19% Never heard of/Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones. [USGREEN.12DCJUL.R37]
I’m going to read you some statements that some people may make in favor of programs that benefit the working poor. After I read each one, please tell me how convincing a reason it is to support programs that benefit the working poor–is it a very convincing reason, somewhat convincing, just a little convincing, or not at all a convincing reason to support programs that benefit the working poor….It is in our DNA as Americans to help the less fortunate and programs like food stamps, Medicaid, unemployment insurance and the child tax credit are good ways to help people fallen on hard times.
35% Very convincing
32% Somewhat convincing
10% A little convincing
20% Not at all convincing
4% Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones. [USGREEN.12DCJUL.R74]
Now for something different. How convincing a reason is the following to not support programs that benefit the working poor?…Very convincing, somewhat convincing, a little convincing, not at all convincing…People who receive the refundable tax credit make so little money that they get more back in refunds than they pay in taxes. We shouldn’t be giving away money to those who don’t pay taxes at all.
31% Very convincing
25% Somewhat convincing
11% A little convincing
28% Not at all convincing
5% Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones.[USGREEN.12DCJUL.R78]
(Now I’m going to read you some of the things critics aresaying about the Republican budget plan, which Mitt Romney has supported. After I read each one, please tell me whether this raises very serious doubts, serious doubts, minor doubts, or no real doubts in your own mind about Mitt Romney.)…The budget proposed by Republicans in Congress slashes the average daily food stamp benefit of just four dollars and 47 cents for nearly 50 million Americans, including over 16 million children and 5 million babies and toddlers, who will face the risk of going hungry each day, endangering their health and school readiness.
30% Very serious doubts
29% Serious doubts
16% Minor doubts
23% No real doubts
3% Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones.[USGREEN.12DCJUL.R59]
If the Republican budget plan is enacted, many families will lose all or part of their refundable child tax credit, which provides up to a 1,000 dollar tax credit for each child of the working poor, those whose incomes average around 21,000 dollars a year. A family has to be working in order to receive it. If the value of a family’s credit exceeds the amount of tax they owe, they may receive part or all of the difference in the form of a refund check. Now I’m going to read you some of the things critics are saying about the plan to not extend the child tax credit. After I read each one, please tell me whether this raises very serious doubts, serious doubts, minor doubts, or no real doubts in your own mind about the plan to not extend the child tax credit….We need to extend the child tax credit. If we don’t, the families of 2 million children will be pushed back into poverty. That’s just wrong and is not what we stand for as Americans.
25% Very serious doubts
31% Serious doubts
18% Minor doubts
20% No real doubts
7% Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones. [USGREEN.12DCJUL.R70]
(Now I’m going to read you some of the things critics are saying about the Republican budget plan, which Mitt Romney has supported. After I read each one, please tell me whether this raises very serious doubts, serious doubts, minor doubts, or no real doubts in your own mind about Mitt Romney.)…The budget proposed by Republicans in Congress lets tax cuts for low-income Americans expire, giving the families of 18 million children a tax increase of up to 1,400 dollars, while millionaires actually get a tax cut of a quarter million dollars.
31% Very serious doubts
29% Serious doubts
16% Minor doubts
19% No real doubts
4% Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones. [USGREEN.12DCJUL.R58]
(Now I’m going to read you some of the things critics are saying about the Republican budget plan, which Mitt Romney has supported. After I read each one, please tell me whether this raises very serious doubts, serious doubts, minor doubts, or no real doubts in your own mind about Mitt Romney.)…The budget proposed by Republicans in Congress lets tax cuts for low-income Americans expire, pushing the families of 2 million children back into poverty by giving some a tax increase of up to 1,400 dollars, while millionaires actually get a tax cut of a quarter million dollars.
34% Very serious doubts
28% Serious doubts
15% Minor doubts
18% No real doubts
5% Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones. [USGREEN.12DCJUL.R57]
(If the Republican budget plan is enacted, many families will lose all or part of their refundable child tax credit, which provides up to a 1,000 dollar tax credit for each child of the working poor, those whose incomes average around 21,000 dollars a year. A family has to be working in order to receive it. If the value of a family’s credit exceeds the amount of tax they owe, they may receive part or all of the difference in the form of a refund check. Now I’m going to read you some of the things critics are saying about the plan to not extend the child tax credit. After I read each one, please tell me whether this raises very serious doubts, serious doubts, minor doubts, or no real doubts in your own mind about the plan to not extend thechild tax credit.)…We can’t balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable. The deficit is important, but it is more important to prevent a 20 percent increase in the poverty rate among babies and toddlers.
23% Very serious doubts
32% Serious doubts
18% Minor doubts
20% No real doubts
7% Don’t know/Refused
Survey by Democracy Corps. Methodology: Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, June 23 – June 27, 2012 and based on 1,000 telephone interviews. Sample: National likely voters. Likely voters are registered voters who voted in the 2008 election/weren’t registered/ineligible/too young to vote and said they are probably or almost certain to vote in the 2012 election. 680 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones and 320 on cell phones. [USGREEN.12DCJUL.R73]
Formal Citation<?xml:namespace prefix = o />
Democracy Corps Poll, Jun, 2012. Retrieved Jul-24-2012 from the iPOLL Databank, The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut. http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/data_access/ipoll/ipoll.html