June 12, 2014: Pew Research Center -- Nationwide Poll of Views on Government Benefits and Race

"I'm going to read you some pairs ofstatements 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 secondstatement comes closer to your own views -- even if neither is exactly right

Poor people today have it easy becausethey can get government benefits without doing anything in return; or poorpeople have hard lives because government benefits don't go far enough to helpthem live decently."

haveit easy 44%

havehard lives 47%

both/neither/ don't know/ refused 9%

Racial discrimination is the main reasonwhy many black people can't get ahead these days; or blacks who can't get aheadin this country are mostly responsible for their own condition.

racialdiscrimination is main reason 27%

blacksare mostly responsible for

their own condition 63%

both/neither/ don't know/ refused 10%

Thinking about the long term future ofSocial Security, do you think some reductions in benefits for future retireesneed to be considered; or Social Security benefits should not be reduced in anyway? [If benefit reductions need to be considered] Should Social Security bephased out as a government program or maintained at a reduced level? [If SocialSecurity benefits should not be reduced] Should Social Security cover morepeople, with greater benefits; or be kept about as it is?

benefitreductions, phased out 6%

benefitreductions, reduced level 24%

benefitreductions, don't know 1%

noreductions, cover more people

withgreater benefits 27%

noreductions, be kept as is 37%

noreductions, don't know 3%

don'tknow/ refused 3%

viaPolling the Nations

Field Date: Jan 23-Mar 16, 2014

Universe: Country: United States

Copyright Info: The Pew ResearchCenter for the People and the Press

Additional Information: The Jan 23-Feb 9, 2014survey interviewed 3341 adults by

telephone;the Feb 12-26, 2014 survey 3337 adults by telephone;

theFeb 27-Mar 16, 2014 survey 3335 adults by telephone; and the

combinedJan 23-Mar 16 survey 10013 adults by telephone. The Mar

19-Apr29 survey interviewed 3308 adults (407 by telephone and

2901by web).