Lifestyle

Americans Are Less Interested in Being Teachers

Americans still have a very high opinion of teaching, but more than ever say it's not a job most people consider pursuing.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of American Adults view being a teacher as one of the most important jobs in our country today. That's down from a high of 76% in 2012 but more in line with regular surveying since 2008. Twenty-three percent (23%) don't consider teaching that important, while 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 800 Adults was conducted on April 8-9, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

The Civil War Ended 150 Years Ago – Or Did It?

Looks like the North and South still don’t see eye-to-eye on the Civil War 150 years after it ended, but one-out-of-three Americans don’t even know when that cataclysmic conflict took place. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on April 12-13, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Should MLB Reinstate Pete Rose?

Cincinnati Reds great Pete Rose has formally asked new Commissioner Rob Manfred for reinstatement into Major League Baseball, and most baseball fans think that request should be granted.  They also feel even more strongly that Rose should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Baseball Fans think MLB should reinstate Rose, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-five percent (25%) disagree, while 15% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 600 Baseball Fans was conducted on March 31-April 1, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Baseball is Back: What Are Your Picks?

Anything can happen in Major League Baseball’s long season, but fans have some early picks for which team is likely to win this year's World Series.

This Opening Day, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 16% of Baseball Fans think the St. Louis Cardinals will win the World Series this year, while 10% say that of the Los Angeles Dodgers. No other team reaches double-digits. But nine percent (9%) think the Boston Red Sox will be this year’s champs, and eight percent (8%) each say that about the Washington Nationals and the Seattle Mariners.

Six percent (6%) think the Los Angeles Angels will emerge victorious this season, with no other team reaching five percent (5%). Only four percent (4%) think the reigning champions, the San Francisco Giants, will win again this year.  Twenty-four percent (24%) of fans either pick a team not mentioned in the survey or are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 600 Baseball Fans was conducted on March 31-April 1, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Do NCAA Fans Think Kentucky Will Go All The Way?

The University of Kentucky Wildcats are trying to achieve something no team has since 1976, but do March Madness followers think they can do it?

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of American Adults who are following the men’s NCAA basketball tournament think Kentucky, who narrowly beat Notre Dame last week to advance to the Final Four, will win the championship. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 620 Adults Following the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament was conducted on March 31-April 1, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Church Attendance Down This Easter

Easter remains one of the most important Christian holidays, but attendance at religious services is likely to be down this year.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of all Americans consider Easter, the day Christians believe marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to be one of our nation’s most important holidays. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 19% think it’s among the least important holidays, while 38% place it somewhere in between. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on March 31- April 1, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

America Is Still A Strongly Christian Nation

Two-out-of-three Americans still believe the central tenets of Christianity, that Jesus Christ was the son of God who was resurrected on Easter Day. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on March 31- April 1, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Is The U.S. Government Too Sensitive to Minorities?

Just over half of voters think anti-gay discrimination is a problem in America, but many also still believe the government is oversensitive to the concerns of minority groups.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely U.S. Voters consider discrimination against gay and lesbian people to be a serious problem in America today, although only 23% consider it a Very Serious one. Forty-three percent (43%) do not think such discrimination is a serious problem, with 18% who say it’s Not At All Serious. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted March 30-31, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

How Are Americans Watching Movies At Home?

One-in-three cable or satellite television subscribers opt for premium cable channels, but TV viewers are looking elsewhere to watch movies.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% of Americans who have cable or satellite TV subscribe to a premium cable channel like HBO or Showtime. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on March 17-18, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Americans Say Cable, Satellite TV Too Expensive, Too Restrictive

Most Americans have cable or satellite TV and don’t like the service they get. As far as they’re concerned, it’s too expensive and doesn’t offer them enough flexibility. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on March 17-18, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Parents Show Little Interest in Adding Muslim Holidays to School Calendar

While most parents of elementary and secondary school children agree with celebrating some religious holidays in the schools, they don't include the two Muslim holidays that Mayor Bill de Blasio recently added to the New York City public school calendar. Christmas and Easter far and away top the list of religious holidays parents think schools should recognize. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on March 11-12, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

OK, You Tell Us: Whose Picture Is On the $1 Bill?

Hard to believe, or is it just a case of out of sight, out of mind? After all, over half of Americans now say they’ve gone an entire week without paying for anything with cash or coins.

But just 88% of Americans correctly recognize that a portrait of George Washington, the so-called Father of our Country, appears on the $1 bill. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on March 15-16, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Americans Say Clones Are Coming - But Not for Them

Most Americans see cloning of individual people as likely in the next 25 years but aren’t interested in bringing back a dead loved one.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of American Adults believe it is at least somewhat likely that scientists will be able to clone genetically identical individuals in the laboratory in the next 25 years, including 30% who say it’s Very Likely. Just 26% say the cloning of people is unlikely in the next quarter century, with seven percent (7%) who feel it's Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Facebook.

The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on March 15-16, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Eleanor Roosevelt Tops Hillary for the Face on the $20 Bill

Arguing that “a woman’s place is on the money,” an activist group wants to push President Andrew Jackson off the $20 bill and replace him with a famous woman from U.S. history. Americans think a former first lady might be a good candidate.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults agree with the proposal to put a famous U.S. woman on the $20 bill. Thirty-four percent (34%) disagree, while 22% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).   Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on March 15-16, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Americans Still Like Girl Scouts Better Than Boy Scouts

Americans view the Boy Scouts of America more positively than they have in nearly two years but still like the Girl Scouts better. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on March 9-10, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Girl Scout Cookies, Anyone?

It’s Girl Scout cookie time again, and sales continue to climb. Though some manage to resist them, most everyone has a favorite. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on March 9-10, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Spring Can’t Come Soon Enough

Spring is on its way, and that’s welcome news for most Americans.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of American Adults are looking forward to the arrival of spring more this year compared to past years. Just six percent (6%) are looking forward less to spring this year, while 38% say their level of anticipation is about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on February 27-28, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Daylight Savings Time: Still Worth It?

It’s time for the clocks to “spring ahead” this weekend, but many Americans still don’t see the point.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 81% of Americans are aware they have to move the clocks forward for Daylight Savings Time (DST) this Sunday. But that’s down eight points from the start of DST last year. Eleven percent (11%) think they are supposed to be changing the clocks back, and eight percent (8%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 800 American Adults was conducted on February 27-28, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Who Best Can Prevent Teen Suicide?

As stories of teen suicide continue to appear in the news, Americans are taking it seriously and feel strongly about who should be responsible for preventing such tragedies.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 800 Adults nationwide was conducted February 27-28, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Are Americans Slimming Down?

Though more Americans admit they have trouble resisting sweets, fewer say they are overweight. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook. 

The survey of 800 Adults nationwide was conducted on February 25-26, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.