Most Important Problem Facing the U.S. (February 2015)

Most Important Problem Facing the U.S. (February 2015)

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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important problem 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 economy12%
Federal spending/national debt12%
National security/terrorism10%
Political corruption/leadership9%
Immigration6%
Health care5%
Moral decline5%
Income inequality5%
Unemployment/jobs4%
Partisan gridlock4%
Border security3%
Education3%
Middle East instability3%
Taxes2%
Gun control/gun violence2%
Crime and drugs2%
Gay marriage2%
Environment2%
Social welfare programs1%
The media1%
Gas prices1%
Abortion1%
Voting system1%
Police brutality/police militarization1%
Race relations1%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important problem 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 economy13%11%12%
Federal spending/national debt2%12%19%
National security/terrorism8%10%13%
Political corruption/leadership7%5%11%
Immigration2%6%8%
Health care7%6%4%
Moral decline2%7%8%
Income inequality9%8%0%
Unemployment/jobs5%6%2%
Partisan gridlock8%2%1%
Border security0%1%7%
Education4%7%1%
Middle East instability3%1%3%
Taxes1%2%2%
Gun control/gun violence3%3%0%
Crime and drugs3%1%1%
Gay marriage2%1%1%
Environment4%4%0%
Social welfare programs2%2%0%
The media1%0%1%
Gas prices1%0%0%
Abortion1%2%1%
Voting system1%1%1%
Police brutality/police militarization2%1%0%
Race relations2%0%0%
Energy1%0%0%
Housing1%0%0%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%1%
Foreign trade0%1%0%
Russia/Ukraine1%1%0%
Gender inequality0%2%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important problem 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 economy10%17%10%
Federal spending/national debt2%8%18%
National security/terrorism4%9%13%
Political corruption/leadership7%6%11%
Immigration2%4%9%
Health care6%8%4%
Moral decline2%3%9%
Income inequality16%4%0%
Unemployment/jobs5%5%2%
Partisan gridlock12%3%1%
Border security0%2%6%
Education5%4%1%
Middle East instability2%3%4%
Taxes1%1%3%
Gun control/gun violence2%4%0%
Crime and drugs0%5%1%
Gay marriage2%3%1%
Environment5%2%0%
Social welfare programs1%1%1%
The media2%2%1%
Gas prices1%0%0%
Abortion1%1%1%
Voting system3%0%1%
Police brutality/police militarization2%2%0%
Race relations2%1%0%
Energy0%0%1%
Government data collection0%1%1%
Housing0%1%0%
Afghanistan/Pakistan1%0%0%
Russia/Ukraine0%1%0%
Gender inequality1%0%0%
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    Respondents were asked, "What would you say is the most important problem facing this country today?" This figure excludes problems that less than 1% of the public deemed most important. Race is calculated according to the RACE variable.
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categoryWhiteBlackHispanic
The economy10%15%16%
Federal spending/national debt14%1%12%
National security/terrorism11%15%8%
Political corruption/leadership10%6%6%
Immigration6%1%7%
Health care5%5%5%
Moral decline7%2%2%
Income inequality5%3%4%
Unemployment/jobs2%7%6%
Partisan gridlock5%2%3%
Border security5%0%0%
Education3%3%3%
Middle East instability3%2%3%
Taxes1%3%2%
Gun control/gun violence1%2%4%
Crime and drugs2%3%4%
Gay marriage1%5%2%
Environment2%3%2%
Social welfare programs0%5%1%
The media1%2%1%
Gas prices1%0%0%
Abortion1%0%1%
Voting system1%1%0%
Police brutality/police militarization1%3%0%
Race relations0%5%0%
Energy0%0%1%
Afghanistan/Pakistan0%0%1%
Foreign trade0%0%1%
Russia/Ukraine0%2%0%
Gender inequality0%1%1%

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