Attitudes on Social and Racial Issues
This survey was conducted by
Social & Behavioral Research Lab (SBRL) at
The survey included 508 respondents, age 18 and older from eastern
Below is the text of a handful of
selected questions. Cell entries reflect the unweighted percentage of respondents who answered the
question as indicated. The responses
to some questions are further broken down by race and/or sex.
1.
Some people seem to follow what’s going on in
government and public affairs most of the time, whether there’s an election or
not. Others aren’t that interested. How often would you say that you follow what
is going on in government and public affairs:
Most of the time, Some of the
time, Only now and then, or Hardly at all?
|
Response |
All |
|
Most of the time |
54.5 |
|
Some of the time |
29.1 |
|
Only now and then |
11.0 |
|
Hardly at all |
5.1 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
0.2 |
* Now
I’m going to read a series of statements on a number of issues, some political,
some not. I would like for you to tell
me whether you Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree nor Disagree,
Disagree, or Strongly Disagree with each statement.
2. Our society should do whatever is necessary to make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Strongly Agree |
37.8 |
35.3 |
51.9 |
|
Agree |
53.1 |
55.2 |
41.6 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
2.4 |
2.2 |
1.3 |
|
Disagree |
5.1 |
5.6 |
3.9 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
1.6 |
1.7 |
1.3 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
3. The government has no right to track the personal affairs of ordinary people.
|
Response |
All |
|
Strongly Agree |
20.7 |
|
Agree |
44.9 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
12.4 |
|
Disagree |
18.5 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
2.4 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
1.2 |
4. Even if people try hard, they often cannot reach their goal.
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Strongly Agree |
12.6 |
11.4 |
16.9 |
|
Agree |
46.7 |
48.9 |
40.3 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
7.5 |
8.3 |
5.2 |
|
Disagree |
26.4 |
24.8 |
31.2 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
5.7 |
5.1 |
6.5 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
1.2 |
1.5 |
0.0 |
5. One of the big problems in this county is that we don’t give people an equal chance.
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Strongly Agree |
9.3 |
7.5 |
16.9 |
|
Agree |
34.8 |
30.2 |
58.4 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
8.7 |
8.8 |
9.1 |
|
Disagree |
38.2 |
43.1 |
11.7 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
7.3 |
8.5 |
2.6 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
1.8 |
1.9 |
1.3 |
|
Response |
Male |
Female |
|
Strongly Agree |
8.7 |
9.5 |
|
Agree |
29.2 |
37.5 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
6.8 |
9.5 |
|
Disagree |
43.5 |
35.7 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
10.6 |
5.8 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
1.2 |
2.0 |
6. If people were treated more equally in this county, we would have fewer problems.
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Strongly Agree |
13.6 |
10.5 |
29.9 |
|
Agree |
34.6 |
32.4 |
45.5 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
8.7 |
9.5 |
5.2 |
|
Disagree |
34.1 |
37.2 |
18.2 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
5.5 |
6.6 |
0.0 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
3.5 |
3.9 |
1.3 |
|
Response |
Male |
Female |
|
Strongly Agree |
13.0 |
13.8 |
|
Agree |
31.7 |
36.0 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
5.6 |
10.1 |
|
Disagree |
37.9 |
32.3 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
8.7 |
4.0 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
3.1 |
3.7 |
7. Affirmative action in education gives an opportunity to qualified blacks who might not have had a chance without it.
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Strongly Agree |
11.4 |
7.8 |
27.3 |
|
Agree |
58.1 |
57.2 |
63.6 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
9.6 |
10.9 |
3.9 |
|
Disagree |
14.4 |
16.3 |
5.2 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
3.3 |
4.1 |
0.0 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
3.1 |
3.6 |
0.0 |
8. Racial discrimination is mostly a thing of the past.
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Strongly Agree |
2.8 |
3.4 |
0.0 |
|
Agree |
20.9 |
22.4 |
16.9 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
4.3 |
4.9 |
1.3 |
|
Disagree |
56.7 |
57.4 |
51.9 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
13.6 |
10.0 |
29.9 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
1.8 |
1.9 |
0.0 |
9. Hard work offers little guarantee of success.
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Strongly Agree |
3.5 |
2.4 |
9.1 |
|
Agree |
21.3 |
21.4 |
22.1 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
5.5 |
5.4 |
6.5 |
|
Disagree |
55.5 |
57.4 |
46.8 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
13.4 |
12.9 |
13.0 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
0.8 |
0.5 |
2.6 |
10. People like me don’t have any say about what the government does.
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Strongly Agree |
4.3 |
4.4 |
5.2 |
|
Agree |
24.4 |
24.6 |
24.7 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
5.3 |
4.9 |
6.5 |
|
Disagree |
53.1 |
54.3 |
49.4 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
12.2 |
11.2 |
14.3 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.0 |
11. Affirmative Action for blacks is unfair to whites.
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Strongly Agree |
4.5 |
4.6 |
5.2 |
|
Agree |
28.7 |
32.1 |
10.4 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
17.5 |
18.5 |
13.0 |
|
Disagree |
36.2 |
33.8 |
46.8 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
5.1 |
3.2 |
14.3 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
7.9 |
7.8 |
10.4 |
12. Most people on welfare are simply lazy.
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Strongly Agree |
4.5 |
4.1 |
7.8 |
|
Agree |
22.0 |
20.7 |
29.9 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
11.6 |
12.2 |
7.8 |
|
Disagree |
49.8 |
51.3 |
40.3 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
9.8 |
9.2 |
13.0 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
2.2 |
2.4 |
1.3 |
|
Response |
Male |
Female |
|
Strongly Agree |
4.3 |
4.6 |
|
Agree |
26.1 |
20.2 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
14.3 |
10.4 |
|
Disagree |
46.6 |
51.3 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
6.2 |
11.5 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
2.5 |
2.0 |
13. Public officials don’t care much about what people like me think.
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Strongly Agree |
3.5 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
|
Agree |
35.2 |
34.1 |
40.3 |
|
Neither Agree nor Disagree |
11.2 |
11.7 |
7.8 |
|
Disagree |
45.1 |
45.3 |
46.8 |
|
Strongly Disagree |
3.5 |
3.6 |
1.3 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
1.4 |
1.7 |
0.0 |
* Now,
for some different types of questions.
14. Have you ever put off a trip to the doctor for you or a family member because of healthcare costs?
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Yes |
48.6 |
48.9 |
49.4 |
|
No |
50.8 |
50.4 |
50.6 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.0 |
15.
Would you say that things in
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Yes |
36.4 |
40.1 |
18.2 |
|
No |
51.4 |
49.1 |
67.5 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
12.2 |
10.7 |
14.3 |
16.
Would you say that things in the State of
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Yes |
44.9 |
47.7 |
29.9 |
|
No |
34.8 |
33.1 |
49.4 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
20.3 |
19.2 |
20.8 |
17.
Would you say that things in
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Right track |
53.7 |
55.0 |
46.8 |
|
Wrong direction |
25.6 |
25.1 |
29.9 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
20.7 |
20.0 |
23.4 |
18. Would you say rate economic conditions in this country today as – excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Excellent |
5.3 |
5.4 |
3.9 |
|
Good |
34.1 |
37.2 |
18.2 |
|
Only Fair |
43.1 |
43.8 |
42.9 |
|
Poor |
16.3 |
12.4 |
35.1 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
1.2 |
1.2 |
0.0 |
19.
Would you rate economic conditions in the state of
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Excellent |
2.0 |
1.9 |
2.6 |
|
Good |
32.1 |
35.8 |
16.9 |
|
Only Fair |
46.9 |
46.5 |
48.1 |
|
Poor |
15.7 |
12.7 |
29.9 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
3.3 |
3.2 |
2.6 |
20.
Would you rate economic conditions in
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Excellent |
5.3 |
6.1 |
1.3 |
|
Good |
37.4 |
41.1 |
18.2 |
|
Only Fair |
38.4 |
36.7 |
46.8 |
|
Poor |
12.6 |
10.0 |
28.6 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
6.3 |
6.1 |
5.2 |
21. How concerned are you about job security? That is, how worried are you about losing your job within the next year? Would you say that you are Very worried, Somewhat worried, or Not at all worried?
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Very worried |
9.4 |
8.5 |
15.6 |
|
Somewhat worried |
24.0 |
20.7 |
36.4 |
|
Not at all worried |
48.0 |
51.6 |
31.2 |
|
Does not have a job |
18.3 |
19.0 |
16.9 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
22.
How likely do you think it is that you would need
additional training or more education, if you had to find a new job within the
next year? Would you say it is Very likely, Somewhat
likely, Not at all likely?
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Very likely |
25.6 |
24.1 |
33.8 |
|
Somewhat likely |
35.8 |
35.0 |
39.0 |
|
Not at all likely |
33.1 |
35.0 |
24.7 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
5.5 |
5.8 |
2.6 |
23.
Do you have Internet or email access at work or school?
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Yes |
76.4 |
80.0 |
58.4 |
|
No |
23.4 |
20.0 |
40.3 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
0.2 |
0.0 |
1.3 |
24.
I would like for you to think of your FIVE closest friends.
How many of them are of the same race as you?
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
One (1) |
1.6 |
0.7 |
3.9 |
|
Two (2) |
6.1 |
5.1 |
11.7 |
|
Three (3) |
17.7 |
16.8 |
22.1 |
|
Four (4) |
15.4 |
16.3 |
11.7 |
|
Five (5) |
55.1 |
57.9 |
45.5 |
|
NONE |
1.6 |
0.2 |
3.9 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
2.6 |
2.9 |
1.3 |
25. Have you contacted any elected official within the last year?
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Yes |
30.7 |
33.3 |
14.3 |
|
No |
69.3 |
66.7 |
85.7 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
26.
How comfortable are you working with people of a different race? Would you say you are Very comfortable, Somewhat comfortable, or Not
at all comfortable?
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Very comfortable |
86.6 |
87.1 |
81.8 |
|
Somewhat comfortable |
11.6 |
11.4 |
15.6 |
|
Not at all comfortable |
0.8 |
0.2 |
2.6 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
1.0 |
1.2 |
0.0 |
27.
How comfortable are you socializing with people of a different race? Would you say you are Very comfortable, Somewhat comfortable, or Not
at all comfortable?
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Very comfortable |
77.6 |
75.9 |
81.8 |
|
Somewhat comfortable |
20.9 |
22.1 |
18.2 |
|
Not at all comfortable |
0.8 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
0.8 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
28.
In your opinion will you be called on to make a
recommendation regarding long-term care for someone else?
|
Response |
All |
|
Yes |
55.5 |
|
No |
41.1 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
3.3 |
29.
If you had to recommend nursing home care do you have a
nursing home in mind?
|
Response |
All |
|
Yes |
27.6 |
|
No |
70.7 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
1.8 |
30.
If the
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
George W. Bush |
49.8 |
59.6 |
5.2 |
|
John Kerry |
31.3 |
24.1 |
68.8 |
|
Other |
8.1 |
6.3 |
11.7 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
10.8 |
10.0 |
14.3 |
31.
If the election for
|
Response |
All |
|
Inez Tenenbaum |
17.5 |
|
David Beasley |
45.1 |
|
Other |
2.6 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
34.8 |
* Now
I’d like to ask some questions about various aspects relating to politics. Some you may be familiar with, while some you
may not.
32. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Approve |
53.1 |
61.6 |
13.0 |
|
Disapprove |
37.6 |
30.7 |
70.1 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
9.3 |
7.8 |
16.9 |
33.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Spratt is
handling his job as
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Approve |
53.0 |
52.6 |
59.7 |
|
Disapprove |
14.0 |
13.4 |
20.8 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
33.1 |
34.1 |
19.5 |
34. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Wes Hayes is handling his job as state senator?
|
Response |
All |
White |
Black |
|
Approve |
49.0 |
53.0 |
32.5 |
|
Disapprove |
10.4 |
8.8 |
19.5 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
40.6 |
38.2 |
48.1 |