American Pulse: 4 in 5 Americans Say Recession Not Over, Healthcare Reform More Socialist than Capitalist
Americans Say
Government Has No Right to Force People to
Buy Health Insurance, U.S. Losing International Status
COLUMBUS, OH – (MARKET WIRE) – 9/22/09 – An overwhelming majority of Americans
appear to disagree with Fed Chairman Bernanke’s statement that the recession is
‘likely over’ as 78% say it isn’t, according to the latest American Pulse Survey
of 6,976 Americans. 76% of Democrats, 84% of Republicans and 75.6% of
Independents concur, making this one subject that all parties can agree upon.
On the flip side, no issue divides Democrats, Republicans and Independents more
than healthcare. A majority of Democrats say the reform would improve healthcare
overall, Republicans say it would put too much control with the government and
Independents believe it wouldn’t solve healthcare problems.
Based on what you know about the pending healthcare reform, do you believe…? (Check all that apply)
Adults 18+ Republicans Democrats Independents
It would improve healthcare 31.4% 11.3% 51.5% 31.6%
system overall
It would put too much control 41.1% 68.7% 18.1% 42.7%
with the government
It would not solve the 46.7% 68.4% 25.8% 50.0%
healthcare problems
Source: BIGresearch, American Pulse – Sept 09
However, all parties
tend to lean towards the healthcare reform being more socialist than capitalist.
On a five point scale with 1 being “very capitalist” and 5 being “very
socialist,” Republicans average 3.8, Independents average 3.4 and Democrats
average 3.1. All respondents average 3.4.
Other findings:
· 75.5% say government doesn’t have right to force someone to buy health insurance...12.9% say it does, 11.6% aren’t sure.
· 66.7% say U.S. is losing status as an international power. Of those who think so, 34.3% list China as most likely to emerge as new superpower.
· 50.3% say they would vote to re-elect their Congressperson, 49.7% say they wouldn’t.
· Kennedy most respected President among Democrats with an average of 4.4 (on a five point scale). George W. Bush is the least respected with an average of 1.8. Reagan most respected among Republicans (4.5), whereas Obama ranks the least (2.1).
· 58.2% say senior citizens are valued less now than in the past, 24% say they are valued the same, 17.8% say more.
· 48.4% think “rude is the new norm” (in light of recent celebrity outbursts), 35.1% say no, 16.5% don’t know.
For
the full complimentary report (segments include age, income, gender and
political party):
http://americanpulse.bigresearch.com.
About American Pulse™
The American Pulse™ Survey is collected online by
BIGresearch every month exclusively utilizing Survey Sampling International’s (SSI)
U.S. panel covering topics such as politics, pop culture and the economy. Over
4,000 respondents participate, providing greater insights into how Americans
really feel about issues they currently face. The use of the Artafact online
blog as a listening post to develop the questions posed in the monthly American
Pulse survey is a very effective use of both online qualitative and quantitative
research.
http://www.bigresearch.com
About Survey Sampling International (SSI)
Survey Sampling International is the premier global provider of
sampling solutions for survey research. SSI offers access to more than 6 million
consumer and business-to-business research respondents in 54 countries via
Internet, telephone, and mobile. Additional client services include custom
profiling, survey programming and hosting, data processing, sampling consulting,
and survey optimization. SSI serves more than 1,800 marketing research clients,
including nearly three-quarters of the top researchers worldwide. Founded in
1977, SSI has an international staff of 400 people representing 50 countries and
36 languages. The company is based in Shelton, CT with 14 additional offices
worldwide.
http://www.surveysampling.com
Contacts:
BIGresearch
SSI
Chrissy Wissinger
Diane Urso
chrissy@bigresearch.com
diane_urso@SurveySampling.com
614.846.0146
203.567.7236