Zogby's recent poll on
REAL America says
Americans Willing to Foot Bill for Larger Military
Rule Out Draft as Source of Troops
Two-thirds (67%) of American adults favor boosting defense spending to pay
for more active duty troops, a new Zogby Interactive survey finds. A slightly
higher percentage (69%) say they favor boosting troop levels so that fewer
reservists need to be called up.
OK, look. I'm part of Zogby's polls and I can tell ya that sure doesn't reflect me. In fact, much of it doesn't. I mean I knew I was outside the mainstream, but really. There's more below - does this REAL America poll represent you?
Note - I don't know how the hell I got some of this diary in
italics, but I couldn't get rid of it no matter what editing I did, so please excuse the parts in
italics!
[emphasis mine]
However, any increase in troop levels will have to come from recruiting efforts, and not a reinstatement of the draft, which is supported by just one-in-four adults (25%).
Increasing defense spending is the majority position of people of all political
stripes --while it is held at nearly-universal levels among Republicans, with
88% support, among Democrats, a 52% majority favors such an increase.
Among independents, support is at 59%.
But the political support goes beyond partisan alignment. Even on ideological
grounds, increasing defense spending is popular on both ends of the spectrum, with half (50%) of self-described liberals, 67% of self-described moderates, and 90% of conservatives urging an increase.
Support for increasing defense spending is at or above 60% in every region of the country, and an increase is particularly popular in the South, where 71% are in favor, and the Central/Great Lakes region, where 70% support an increase. Support is lowest in the Eastern U.S., where it is favored by three-infive
(60%).
Religion has no impact on response--identical levels of Catholics and Protestants, and a majority of Jews all favor boosting defense spending in the name of a larger active-duty force. It is worth noting, though, that Protestants who identify themselves as "Born again" are one of the most pro-increase
groups, with 81% supporting more defense spending.
This really blows my mine. And exactly how does this reconcile with polls showing the majority of people no longer believing the war in Iraq was worth it and wanting our troops to come home? I don't get it. I realize there's a global presence that must be accounted for, but I see a total disconnect from wanting more military spending and wanting our troops home from Iraq. Unless, that military spending includes increased benefits for vets coming home from all wars. Then I could see these results.
But, mercy there's more that blew my mind...these results cross all geographical and party lines.
The position is favored by a majority of virtually every single subgroup in the survey. A majority of respondents in every kind of community--62% of large city residents, 72% of small city residents, 68% of suburbanites, and 71% of rural Americans back a hike in defense spending.
Gender does impact response somewhat, with 71% of men favoring an increase--higher than the 63% of women who say the same.
I'm disappointed in the women of this country - a majority wants to increase military spending? Damn those soccer Moms...(no offense intended toward any Kossacks) But there is good news when it comes to the draft!
Despite the strong support for increasing defense spending to boost troop levels, just 25% of adults indicate they favor bringing back the draft.
Support for reinstituting the draft is weak in all quarters, though it climbs to 38% among seniors (those age 65 and older).
Political party makes almost no difference, although Democrats are slightly more receptive to a return of the draft than are Republicans, and support drops even further among independents.
Likewise, men are slightly more supportive of the draft than women, with 27% of the former and 23% of the latter in favor.
One factor does change support levels for the draft, however: an attack on America's home soil. Under that circumstance, two-thirds (65%) of Americans would support reintroducing the draft as a source of troops--although a full one-in-five (21%) would not.
The Zogby Interactive survey of 7,701 American adults nationwide was conducted from August 12 to 16, 2005, and has a margin of error of +-1.1 percentage points.
Excuse me? Slightly more Democrats favor a return to the draft? Now I know the Democrats swallowed the fear factor hook, line, and sinker. Do you suppose that's because Democrats see a draft as being more likely to be fair in recruiting, with the military more reflective of our society? I wonder. To me it's a total pipe dream. The wealthy and affluent, with power and connections, will always be able to avoid the draft. We need only to look to the Emperor With No Clothes, no?
Just about now, Zogby throws in some funnies. For instance, did you know
82% of American adults say rock and roll is here to stay. 6% disagree.
Source: Zogby Interactive survey of 7,701 adults nationwide conducted from August 12 to 16, 2005. MOE of +-1.1 percentage points.
After that diversion, Zogby gets down with John Roberts. While Roberts has now been confirmed and these results are pre-confirmed, I thought some of these results were interesting. Again, I'm outside the mainstream, but what else is new? LOL
{snip}
Judge John Roberts, President Bush's nominee to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court, gets favorable marks from two-thirds (64%) of likely voters who say they are somewhat or very closely paying attention to the nomination.
{snip}
Despite some negative areas, Bush's choice of Roberts seems to have support in both the Red and Blue States, as well as all regions of the country. Even in the Eastern states, Roberts was viewed favorably by a more than two-to-one margin, 56% to 24%, while in the Central/Great Lakes region, 72% of respondents viewed him favorably--dwarfing the 13% with a negative view. And, when past favorable comments about Roberts by centrist Democrats like Connecticut's Sen. Joe Lieberman are brought to voters' attention, 42% say they are more likely to support Roberts' nomination.
It's that last part that really made my stomach flip, "And, when past favorable comments about Roberts by centrist Democrats like Connecticut's Sen. Joe Lieberman are brought to voters' attention, 42% say they are more likely to support Roberts' nomination." If only he'd keep his mouth shut...
To be fair here, I have to say I believe even my Mom (may she RIP) would have supported Roberts. She was a yellow dog Democrat and never voted Republican, but she could see the good in people and I believe she would have snickered at all the left wing chatter about how dangerous confirming Roberts would be. I know she and I would have had lots of heated discussions on that one, but I think she represents that `mainstream' part of liberals who are willing to give the benefit of the doubt, particularly with someone as smart and bright as Roberts surely must be. Nonetheless, Zogby's poll still doesn't represent me!
There's more about military recruiter access and I'll highlight some of the salient points. Would you be surprised to learn that a large % of folks aren't aware of No Child Left Behind legislation allowing recruiters into schools?
By a two-to-one margin, Americans are critical of a provision of the No Child Left Behind Act, the comprehensive 2002 education reform law, that allows military recruiters access to personal information about students at secondary schools that receive federal funds.
{snip} [emphasis mine]
One factor does have a significant impact, however: partisan alignment. The provision wins wide approval among Republicans, with 65% favoring the requirement and 24% opposing it. However, opposition among Democrats was so sharp--91% opposed the requirement--that, coupled with 67% opposition among independents, the provision fails with the public.
{snip} [emphasis mine]
Part of the opposition to the act may come from a lack of knowledge. While 57% of respondents initially indicated familiarity with the provision (and 40% said they were unfamiliar), a much lower 39% indicated they were aware that they could opt their child out by making a request to the school district in writing--while 57% admitted being unaware of that information.
And I'd wager that's because most Americans get their information from 6 second sound bites from FOX, that never, ever told Americans about that sticky little provision.
Now, did you know
46% of American adults would accept the presidency if events led to that office being offered to them. 47% would not do so.
Source: Zogby Interactive survey of 7,701 adults nationwide conducted from August 12 to 16, 2005. MOE of +-1.1 percentage points.
Ok, that one blew my mind. Would most of you really want to be President if it were offered to you? If you really didn't want to, would you do it if someone offered you millions of dollars? That might change my mind...interesting to contemplate.
And few other little tidbits from Zogby's REAL America
Roosevelt, Reagan Top List for Mount Rushmore Addition
Franklin Roosevelt, the wartime president whose New Deal policies helped stabilize the nation's economy during the Great Depression, tops a list of presidents who Americans would like to see added to Mount Rushmore, with 32% choosing the Democratic icon.
Ronald Reagan, the Republican president whose policies are widely credited with winning the Cold War, and who presided over a period of unparalleled peacetime economic expansion, was a close second, at 30%.
I suppose that's something that Roosevelt beat out Reagan!
And Do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell?
Who is most to blame for the break-up of the Beatles? 32% of those polled blame Yoko Ono! Good old Not Sure came in at 30%.
Source: Zogby Interactive survey of 7,701 adults nationwide conducted from August 12 to 16, 2005. MOE of +-1.1 percentage points.
And lastly, there's this
Juke Box Hero...
We asked what deceased rock star truly epitomized the spirit of rock and roll.
Source: Zogby Interactive survey of 7,701 adults nationwide conducted from August 12 to 16, 2005. MOE of +/-1.1 percentage points.
Here are your choices: Elvis, Jim Morrison, Freddie Mercury, Duane Allman, John Lennon, Jerry Garcia, Other, Frank Zappa, Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobian, Not Sure, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Ronnie Van Zandt.
Who would you vote for? And the winners are:
Elvis - 23%
Not Sure - 14%
John Lennon and Buddy Holly - 13%
Jimi Hendrix - 11%
Jim Morrison - 5 %
And the rest had 4% or less.
Well, at least with this poll, I'm in the top 37% - when I got the poll, I voted for Not Sure - most have a heck of a sound!