Most Important Problem Facing the Country Today (June 2015)

Most Important Problem Facing the Country Today (June 2015)

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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important.
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categorycolumn-1
The economy13%
Federal spending/national debt11%
Political corruption/leadership9%
National security/terrorism8%
Income inequality6%
Unemployment/jobs6%
Immigration6%
Moral decline5%
Health care5%
Border security4%
Middle East instability3%
Education3%
Race relations3%
Environment2%
Taxes2%
Police brutality/police militarization2%
Gun control/gun violence2%
Partisan gridlock2%
Crime and drugs2%
Social welfare programs2%
Gay marriage1%
The media1%
Gas prices1%
Gender inequality1%
Voting system1%
Government data collection1%
Abortion0%
Housing0%
Energy0%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%
Russia/Ukraine0%
Foreign trade0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. Measurement of Party ID for this figure is based on two questions. First, respondents were asked whether they consider themselves to be a Democrats, Republicans, independents, other, or not sure. Those who responded that they are independents or "other" were then asked if they lean toward either the Democrats or Republicans. If they indicated that they lean toward one party or the other, they are considered Democrats or Republicans for the purposes of this figure. Only "pure" independents or members of a third party who indicate that they have no preference for Democrats vis-a-vis Republicans are considered independents . Respondents who answered that they are "not sure" for either of the two aforementioned questions are not incorporated into this figure.
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categoryDemocratIndependentRepublican
The economy12%17%13%
Federal spending/national debt3%14%16%
Political corruption/leadership9%9%9%
National security/terrorism7%4%12%
Income inequality13%4%1%
Unemployment/jobs6%1%7%
Immigration2%6%8%
Moral decline1%5%8%
Health care7%4%3%
Border security1%3%7%
Middle East instability3%0%4%
Education4%4%1%
Race relations4%5%1%
Environment4%4%1%
Taxes3%1%2%
Police brutality/police militarization3%4%0%
Gun control/gun violence4%0%1%
Partisan gridlock3%4%1%
Crime and drugs2%3%1%
Social welfare programs1%5%2%
Gay marriage2%0%1%
The media1%0%1%
Gas prices1%1%1%
Gender inequality1%1%0%
Voting system1%0%0%
Government data collection0%0%1%
Abortion0%0%1%
Housing1%0%0%
Energy0%0%0%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%0%
Russia/Ukraine0%0%0%
Foreign trade0%0%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. Party identification is calculated according to the PID7 variable, a seven point scale of party identification.
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categoryLean RepublicanNot very strong RepublicanStrong Republican
The economy15%11%11%
Federal spending/national debt22%13%13%
Political corruption/leadership12%9%6%
National security/terrorism8%9%16%
Income inequality1%1%0%
Unemployment/jobs5%10%6%
Immigration8%6%10%
Moral decline6%7%11%
Health care3%4%3%
Border security7%5%8%
Middle East instability2%6%4%
Education1%3%1%
Race relations1%1%1%
Environment1%2%0%
Taxes1%2%2%
Police brutality/police militarization0%0%0%
Gun control/gun violence2%1%0%
Partisan gridlock0%2%0%
Crime and drugs2%3%0%
Social welfare programs1%2%3%
Gay marriage1%1%1%
The media2%0%1%
Gas prices1%1%0%
Voting system0%1%0%
Government data collection1%0%1%
Abortion0%0%1%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. Party identification is calculated according to the PID7 variable, a seven point scale of party identification.
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categoryLean DemocratNot very strong DemocratStrong Democrat
The economy7%15%11%
Federal spending/national debt3%4%2%
Political corruption/leadership16%6%8%
National security/terrorism3%13%4%
Income inequality13%7%18%
Unemployment/jobs8%8%4%
Immigration4%2%1%
Moral decline4%1%0%
Health care5%5%9%
Border security0%2%0%
Middle East instability3%5%2%
Education8%2%3%
Race relations3%1%6%
Environment8%3%4%
Taxes2%3%3%
Police brutality/police militarization1%6%2%
Gun control/gun violence0%3%6%
Partisan gridlock4%3%3%
Crime and drugs4%2%2%
Social welfare programs0%1%1%
Gay marriage0%2%2%
The media0%3%0%
Gas prices0%0%1%
Gender inequality0%2%1%
Voting system2%0%2%
Government data collection1%0%0%
Housing0%0%1%
Energy1%0%0%
Russia/Ukraine0%0%0%
Foreign trade0%0%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. Ideology is measured on a scale of 1-7, with 1 corresponding to "extremely liberal", 7 corresponding to "extremely conservative, and 4 corresponding to "in the middle." For the purposes of this table, respondents who placed themselves at or between points 1 and 3 on the scale are considered "liberal," respondents who placed themselves at point 4 on the scale are considered "moderate," and respondents who placed themselves at or between points 5 and 7 on the scale are considered conservative.
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categoryLiberalsModeratesConservatives
The economy7%18%13%
Federal spending/national debt1%9%16%
Political corruption/leadership11%7%9%
National security/terrorism4%10%9%
Income inequality20%4%1%
Unemployment/jobs5%9%4%
Immigration3%3%8%
Moral decline2%2%9%
Health care5%7%4%
Border security0%2%6%
Middle East instability4%2%3%
Education4%4%2%
Race relations3%4%2%
Environment7%3%0%
Taxes1%2%3%
Police brutality/police militarization3%2%1%
Gun control/gun violence3%2%1%
Partisan gridlock4%1%1%
Crime and drugs2%3%1%
Social welfare programs1%2%2%
Gay marriage1%1%1%
The media0%1%1%
Gas prices1%1%1%
Gender inequality1%1%0%
Voting system2%0%0%
Government data collection0%0%1%
Abortion0%0%1%
Housing1%0%0%
Energy1%0%0%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%0%
Russia/Ukraine0%0%0%
Foreign trade0%0%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. The ideology measure is based on respondent self-placement in response to the following question: "On a scale from 1 to 7, where 1 is extremely liberal, 7 is extremely conservative, and 4 is exactly in the middle, where would you place yourself?" The placements are further classified such that 1 is extremely liberal, 2 is very liberal, 3 is somewhat liberal, 4 is moderate, 5 is somewhat conservative, 6 is very conservative, and 7 is extremely conservative.
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categoryLeaning conservativeSomewhat conservativeExtremely conservative
The economy19%14%4%
Federal spending/national debt15%17%15%
Political corruption/leadership10%10%9%
National security/terrorism10%7%11%
Income inequality2%1%0%
Unemployment/jobs5%3%4%
Immigration3%10%10%
Moral decline3%7%18%
Health care2%3%6%
Border security4%7%8%
Middle East instability3%3%3%
Education3%2%0%
Race relations1%3%2%
Environment1%0%0%
Taxes4%3%1%
Police brutality/police militarization3%0%1%
Gun control/gun violence1%2%2%
Partisan gridlock4%0%0%
Crime and drugs1%1%0%
Social welfare programs1%4%1%
Gay marriage1%0%1%
The media0%2%1%
Gas prices1%0%1%
Gender inequality1%0%0%
Government data collection1%0%1%
Abortion0%0%1%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. The ideology measure is based on respondent self-placement in response to the following question: "On a scale from 1 to 7, where 1 is extremely liberal, 7 is extremely conservative, and 4 is exactly in the middle, where would you place yourself?" The placements are further classified such that 1 is extremely liberal, 2 is very liberal, 3 is somewhat liberal, 4 is moderate, 5 is somewhat conservative, 6 is very conservative, and 7 is extremely conservative.
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categoryLeaning liberalSomewhat liberalExtremely liberal
The economy13%7%2%
Federal spending/national debt3%0%1%
Political corruption/leadership7%13%14%
National security/terrorism6%2%3%
Income inequality15%21%27%
Unemployment/jobs6%4%7%
Immigration3%2%4%
Moral decline2%2%1%
Health care3%9%3%
Border security0%1%0%
Middle East instability7%3%1%
Education6%3%3%
Race relations2%3%3%
Environment3%7%11%
Taxes0%1%1%
Police brutality/police militarization5%3%1%
Gun control/gun violence2%4%2%
Partisan gridlock5%5%3%
Crime and drugs4%2%0%
Social welfare programs0%1%4%
Gay marriage1%2%1%
The media1%0%0%
Gas prices1%1%1%
Gender inequality1%0%3%
Voting system4%2%2%
Government data collection1%0%0%
Abortion0%0%0%
Housing0%1%1%
Energy1%0%0%
Russia/Ukraine0%1%0%
Foreign trade0%1%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. Tea Party identification is based on the following question, also asked in the survey: "Suppose the Tea Party movement organized itself as a political party. When thinking about the next election for Congress, would you vote for the Republican candidate from your district, the Democratic candidate from your district, or the Tea Party candidate from your district?" Those who responded "Republican candidate" are considered Republicans (non-Tea Party movement) and those who responded "Tea Party candidate" are considered Tea Party Republicans.
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categoryDemocratRepublicanTea Party
The economy11%13%11%
Federal spending/national debt3%17%15%
Political corruption/leadership10%7%10%
National security/terrorism5%13%9%
Income inequality16%1%0%
Unemployment/jobs5%7%6%
Immigration2%7%11%
Moral decline1%8%8%
Health care8%4%1%
Border security0%4%10%
Middle East instability2%3%3%
Education4%2%1%
Race relations4%1%2%
Environment5%1%1%
Taxes3%2%2%
Police brutality/police militarization3%0%2%
Gun control/gun violence5%0%1%
Partisan gridlock3%1%0%
Crime and drugs2%0%1%
Social welfare programs2%2%3%
Gay marriage1%1%1%
The media1%1%1%
Gas prices1%1%0%
Gender inequality1%0%0%
Voting system1%0%0%
Government data collection0%1%1%
Abortion0%1%0%
Housing1%0%0%
Energy0%0%0%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%0%
Russia/Ukraine0%0%0%
Foreign trade0%0%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. Race is calculated according to the RACE1 variable.
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categoryWhiteBlackHispanic
The economy12%16%14%
Federal spending/national debt13%2%8%
Political corruption/leadership11%3%8%
National security/terrorism9%7%8%
Income inequality6%5%6%
Unemployment/jobs3%8%10%
Immigration7%4%4%
Moral decline8%2%2%
Health care4%7%6%
Border security4%1%3%
Middle East instability3%2%2%
Education3%3%3%
Race relations1%13%1%
Environment2%1%4%
Taxes2%2%2%
Police brutality/police militarization1%5%3%
Gun control/gun violence1%7%2%
Partisan gridlock2%1%0%
Crime and drugs1%4%5%
Social welfare programs2%1%3%
Gay marriage1%3%1%
The media1%0%2%
Gas prices1%1%1%
Gender inequality0%0%2%
Voting system1%1%0%
Government data collection1%0%1%
Abortion0%0%0%
Housing0%0%0%
Energy0%0%0%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%0%
Russia/Ukraine0%0%0%
Foreign trade0%0%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. Gender is calculated according to the GENDER variable.
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categoryMaleFemale
The economy13%13%
Federal spending/national debt13%8%
Political corruption/leadership10%8%
National security/terrorism7%10%
Income inequality6%5%
Unemployment/jobs6%5%
Immigration8%4%
Moral decline6%5%
Health care3%7%
Border security3%5%
Middle East instability3%3%
Education2%4%
Race relations3%3%
Environment2%3%
Taxes3%1%
Police brutality/police militarization1%3%
Gun control/gun violence2%2%
Partisan gridlock2%2%
Crime and drugs1%3%
Social welfare programs1%3%
Gay marriage1%1%
The media1%1%
Gas prices1%1%
Gender inequality1%1%
Voting system1%1%
Government data collection0%1%
Abortion0%0%
Housing0%0%
Energy0%0%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%
Russia/Ukraine0%0%
Foreign trade0%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. Location is based on the following question, " Would you say that you live in an urban, suburban, or rural community?"
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categoryUrbanSuburbanRural
The economy11%13%15%
Federal spending/national debt9%12%10%
Political corruption/leadership7%9%12%
National security/terrorism8%7%12%
Income inequality6%7%3%
Unemployment/jobs5%6%6%
Immigration5%5%8%
Moral decline4%6%6%
Health care7%4%5%
Border security3%5%3%
Middle East instability4%2%4%
Education4%2%3%
Race relations2%4%1%
Environment4%2%2%
Taxes3%3%0%
Police brutality/police militarization2%2%1%
Gun control/gun violence3%1%2%
Partisan gridlock3%2%1%
Crime and drugs4%1%2%
Social welfare programs1%2%2%
Gay marriage1%1%0%
The media2%1%0%
Gas prices1%0%1%
Gender inequality0%1%0%
Voting system1%1%0%
Government data collection0%0%1%
Abortion0%0%1%
Housing0%0%0%
Energy0%0%0%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%0%
Russia/Ukraine0%0%0%
Foreign trade0%0%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. Age is calculated according to the AGEG variable.
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category18-2930-4445-6465+
The economy12%17%12%10%
Federal spending/national debt9%6%12%15%
Political corruption/leadership6%6%10%13%
National security/terrorism3%4%8%17%
Income inequality6%5%7%5%
Unemployment/jobs10%10%3%3%
Immigration1%5%7%6%
Moral decline2%6%6%5%
Health care5%6%6%3%
Border security1%1%7%3%
Middle East instability5%3%2%4%
Education5%7%1%1%
Race relations7%2%2%1%
Environment4%2%3%2%
Taxes0%4%2%2%
Police brutality/police militarization4%2%2%0%
Gun control/gun violence5%2%2%1%
Partisan gridlock2%1%3%1%
Crime and drugs3%3%1%1%
Social welfare programs1%2%2%2%
Gay marriage3%0%1%0%
The media3%1%0%1%
Gas prices0%1%1%0%
Gender inequality1%2%0%0%
Voting system0%1%1%1%
Government data collection1%0%0%1%
Abortion0%0%1%0%
Housing0%0%0%0%
Energy0%0%0%0%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%0%0%
Russia/Ukraine0%0%0%0%
Foreign trade0%0%0%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important oblem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. Education is calculated according to the EDUC variable.
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categoryNo high schoolHigh school graduateSome college2-year4-yearPost-grad
The economy16%13%13%10%12%15%
Federal spending/national debt6%9%13%11%9%11%
Political corruption/leadership14%8%9%6%12%8%
National security/terrorism2%11%9%8%7%7%
Income inequality3%3%5%8%9%10%
Unemployment/jobs13%7%4%8%4%4%
Immigration9%6%5%4%6%6%
Moral decline2%6%5%3%7%6%
Health care0%6%6%5%5%2%
Border security0%5%5%1%3%4%
Middle East instability0%4%2%3%4%2%
Education4%1%3%5%4%3%
Race relations4%3%3%3%2%1%
Environment0%2%2%6%3%2%
Taxes5%1%3%2%1%2%
Police brutality/police militarization7%2%3%1%1%1%
Gun control/gun violence0%3%2%1%2%1%
Partisan gridlock3%0%1%1%2%9%
Crime and drugs8%3%1%2%1%0%
Social welfare programs2%2%3%1%1%1%
Gay marriage0%1%0%3%1%1%
The media0%2%1%0%1%0%
Gas prices0%1%0%3%0%0%
Gender inequality0%0%1%2%1%1%
Voting system0%1%0%0%0%3%
Government data collection0%0%0%3%0%1%
Abortion0%1%0%0%1%0%
Housing0%0%0%0%0%0%
Energy0%0%0%0%1%0%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%0%0%0%0%
Russia/Ukraine0%0%0%1%0%0%
Foreign trade0%0%0%0%0%0%

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