Link to results for September-October 2002 Poll

Link to the results of April 2003 Poll

Results of April-May 2004 Poll

Results of November 2003 Poll

Results for each question are presented within (%)

My name is _____________. I'm calling for Retro Poll,
a non-profit public interest group.
Are you willing to take a few minutes of your time to respond to our poll?
The general topic is public views on U.S. government policies.
Are you 18 or over?
Thank you

1. In your personal opinion which statement best describes the impact of the current U.S. Government's War on Terrorism:

a) lessening world tensions and improving chances for peace (25.0%).
b) having little impact on terrorism (17.7%).
c) creating enemies and terrorists and harming the quality of our lives (32.3%).
d) none of the above/ not sure (25.0%).

In this poll, we are interested in whether Americans agree with each other on the impact of government policies in the war on terrorism and other areas of national policy. You will notice that the first part asks for factual information and the second part for your opinions. In the first part it is better to say you don't know than to guess the answer to any question. Few people will know all the answers. Please try and be honest and complete the poll. We'll tell you where to find the right answers later.

2. Since 1900 one U.S. president resigned who was likely to be impeached by Congress and another was impeached. Were those two presidents?

a) Ford and Carter (4.3%).
b) Reagan and Ford (4.9%).
c) Nixon and Clinton (66.5%).
d) don't know (24.4%).

3. Which nation invaded Kuwait in 1990?

a) Saudi Arabia (7.9%).
b) Iraq (49.4%).
c) the U.S. (12.8%).
d) don't know (29.9%).

4. "Which nation has most weapons of mass destruction and supplied some to Iraq?

a) Russia (22.0%).
b) U.S. (34.1%).
c) North Korea (15.9%).
d) don't know (28.0%).

5. Is there evidence that Saddam Hussein worked with the 9-11 terrorists?

Yes (31.1%), No (47.0%), Don't Know (22.0%).

6. Is there evidence that Saddam Hussein work with Al Queda?

Yes (40.5%), No (31.6%), Don't Know (27.8%).

7. In the 1980s which of the following nations did not provide money and chemicals and biological agents to Saddam Hussein to construct weapons of mass destruction?

a) Germany (15.4%).
b) U.S. (19.8%).
c) Cuba (17.3%).
d) don't know (47.5%).

8. In the 1980s Which U.S. president sent Donald Rumsfeld to Iraq to support and work with Saddam Hussein shortly after he had used outlawed poison gas against Iranian troops?

a) Carter (8.7%).
b) Reagan (24.8%).
c) George Bush Sr. (34.2%).
d) don't know (32.3%).

9. USA Patriot Act authorizes investigations against terrorist suspects and defines a terrorist suspect

a) as any person suspected of engaging or planning violence against civilians (30.6%).
b) as any person suspected of violent crimes (6.9%).
c) broadly enough that it can include any person opposing U.S. government policies (21.9%).
d) don't know (40.6%).

10. Does the U.S. Constitution guarantee accused persons the right to a fair and speedy trial and the right to be released unless charged with a crime?

Yes (74.8%), No (13.8%), Don't Know (11.3%).

11. More than 197 cities and towns and 3 states have passed resolutions concerning the USA Patriot Act. Do these resolutions

a) call for vigorous law enforcement of the Act (8.2%).
b) ask that it be strengthened (8.2%).
c) call for the removal of key provisions because they violate our democratic rights (26.4%).
d) don't know (57.2%).

12. Does deregulation mainly cause

a) competition (29.6%).
b) monopolization (24.5%).
c) neither (13.8%).
d) don't know (32.1%)

13: The U.S. spends more money per person on health care than any nation on earth. Among nations, where does the U.S. rank in various health outcomes such as infant mortality and life expectancy achieved?

a) best (18.2%).
b) 10th to 15th best (30.8%).
c) 20th to 54th (18.9%).
d) don't know (32.1%).

14 Which statement best describes a result of the World Trade Organization's agreements intended to tear down barriers to international trade?

a) removes the right of nations to protect their environment and their workers health and safety (24.2%).
b) creates a world at peace (10.8%).
c) helps put an end to hysteria about environmental catastrophe (4.5%).
d) none of these or don't know (59.9%).

15. Does the use of genetically engineered seeds in agriculture tend to make small farmers in the U.S. and in other countries financially dependent upon the corporations who hold patents to these seeds?

Yes (49.0%), No (15.5%), Don't Know (35.5%).

16. The Middle Eastern nation that has the greatest arsenal of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction is:

a) Iran (15.0%).
b) Syria (12.4%).
c) Israel (35.9%).
d) don't know (36.6%).

The following questions ask for your personal opinion. If you have no opinion or your opinion is not among the choices, please so state.

17. Should the U.S. have invaded Iraq?

Yes (42.1%), No (57.9%).

18. In your opinion is the USA Patriot Act

a) having little or no impact on our civil rights (21.7%).
b) protecting our right to dissent and strengthening civil rights (25.0%).
c) removing important rights and Constitutional guarantees (52.3%).

19. Do you support or reject the U.S.A. Patriot Act provision requiring the cooperation of local business people and professionals to turn over records of their clients and customers to federal agents and be sworn to silence about their actions?

Support (34.3%), Reject (65.7%).

20. Do you support or reject the USA Patriot Act authorizing government agents to enter your home and otherwise investigate you without cause, recording and copying any materials they wish to, and never telling you?

Support (11.5%), Reject (88.5%).

21. Should the U.S. defy the world trade organization regulations when necessary to protect our environment and the health and safety of American workers?

Yes (76.4%), No (23.6%).

22. In your opinion what would have happened to the Social Security Trust Fund had its 1.37 trillion dollars of taxpayer money been invested in the stock market as President Bush and his advisors urged in early 2001?

a) guaranteed better retirement benefits for all retirees (18.5%).
b) collapsed from losses (67.4%).
c) turned a handsome profit (14.1%).

23. Do you think the 24 foot high steel and concrete wall that Israel is completing throughout the Palestinian lands is similar to

a) the Great wall China built to keep out enemies (50.0%).
b) the Wall at Buckingham Palace to protect the Queen (10.2%).
c) European Ghettos where Jews were fenced in by the Nazis (39.8%).

24. Israel is the number one recipient of U.S. aid in the world (4-8 billion dollars a year). Should the U.S.?

a) continue current Israeli funding policy (30.4%).
b) make aid conditional on an end to Israeli occupation of conquered territories and give equal aid to Palestine (40.0%).
c) stop all aid (29.6%).

25. As Israel's only major military sponsor could the U.S. government be held responsible for the murder of Palestinians, journalists and peace activists in the occupied territories?

Yes (35.9%), No (64.1%).

Do you support or reject that the following policies be carried out by the U.S. government:

26. Creation of a national health fund providing total health care coverage for every American at all medical institutions, with the elimination of health insurance company profits and out of pocket patient costs.

Support (74.4%), Reject (25.6%).

27. The U.S. should support international attempts to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Support (86.5%), Reject (13.5%).

28. Lengthy detention for anyone, citizen or not, who the U.S. government decides to arrest without providing any criminal charges, proofs or trials.

Support (13.4%), Reject (86.6%).

29. The use, by the United States, of outlawed interrogation techniques such as torture.

Support (19.9%), Reject (80.1%).

30. A requirement that the U.S. government must publicly prove accusations against nations before attacking them.

Support (83.1%), Reject (16.9%).

31. President Bush claimed that the US had to invade Iraq because Iraq had nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. None has been found. Do you think that misleading the U.S. public and Congress in order to take the country into war is grounds for impeachment?

Yes (39.9%), No (42.5%), Don't Know (17.6%).

Please provide your
Age(32)_________

Sex(33)
Female 51.0% Male 49.0%

State(35)
see table

Ethnicity(36)
Caucasian 62.2% Latin American 12.2% African American 11.5%, Asian-Pacific Islander 1.9% Biracial 1.3% Native American 1.3%

Highest educational level completed(37)_____

Thank you so much for participating in our poll and for caring enough to share your views. For answers to the factual questions please check our Web Site at retropoll.org Final poll results will be posted on November 24, 2003.