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War—Support and Sacrifice - June, 2007
Key Observations

Religion Matters
  • 84% of our respondents agree with the statement “I agree with a Supreme Being.”
    • 87% of women agreed with this statement, as did 79% of men.
    • Respondents ages 36 and above were more likely to agree with this statement (85%) than those between the ages of 18-35 (75%).
  • 71% of those polled believe in absolute standards of right and wrong
    • Those with no college experience were more likely to believe in absolute standards (77%) than those who have completed college coursework (69%).
    • Participants with an annual household income of less than $50,000 were more likely to believe in absolute standards (77%) than those with a household income of greater than $50,000 (66%).
  • The majority of our participants (67%) said “The Bible is my source for standards of right and wrong.”
    • 73% of women agreed with this statement, compared with 58% of men.
    • Respondents over the age of 35 agreed more with this statement (68%) than those under the age of 35 (59%).
    • Those who had not attended college were more likely to agree with this statement (82%) than those who did (62%).
    • Participants with an annual household income of less than $50,000 were more likely to use the Bible as their source for standards of right and wrong (75%) than those with a household income of greater than $50,000 (60%).
Weekly Worship
  • Five years ago, 50% of our respondents attended church or a place of worship about once a week
    • 53% of women attended church, compared with 45% of men
    • Participants ages 36 and above were more likely to attend church (51%) than those between the ages of 18-35 (41%)
  • Currently, 50% of those polled attend church or a place of worship about once a week
    • More women (52%) were likely to attend a weekly church or worship service than men (45%).
    • Participants over the age of 35 were more likely to worship weekly (52%) than those under the age of 35 (38%).
  • 58% of participants agreed “I am more interested in religious matters than I was five years ago.”
    • 64% of women agreed with this statement opposed to 50% of men.
Ethics, Morals and Our Country
  • 73% of those polled believe the moral and ethical standards of our country are lower than five years ago
    • More women (76%) than men (69%) agreed that standards are lower.
    • 75% of participants over the age of 35 agreed that moral and ethical standards are lower, compared to 64% of those ages 35 and younger.
  • 66% of our respondents believe the moral and ethical standards of our leaders in this country are lower than five years ago
    • 68% of women agreed that the standards of our leaders are lower, as do 64% of men.
    • More participants over the age of 35 (68%) than those ages 18-35 (58%) agreed that our leaders’ standards are lower.
Supporting the War
Views on what supporting the war really means

Public support of the war
  • Government officials should never publicly state that America is losing the war.
    • 39% of respondents agreed with this statement, 47% disagreed and 14% remained neutral.
    • Only 40% of women and 37% of men agreed.
    • Participants ages 36 and above agreed more (40%) than those ages 18-35 (33%).
  • 53% of participants agree “It is wrong for public officials to continue supporting a war if they do not personally believe in it.”
    • 30% disagreed with the statement and 17% remained neutral.
    • A small majority of both men (54%) and women (53%) agreed with the statement.
    • Those with no college experience agreed more with the statement (59%) than those who had attended college (51%).
    • Respondents with an annual household income of less than $50,000 agreed more (61%) than those with an income greater than $50,000 (50%).
  • Publicly voicing doubt about a war gives aid to the enemy
    • 48% of respondents agreed with this statement, 38% disagreed and 15% remained neutral.
    • 50% of men agreed with the statement as did 46% of women.
    • Participants ages 36 and above were more likely to agree with the statement (50%) than those ages 18-35 (35%).
    • Those with no college experience agreed more with the statement (58%) than those who had attended college (45%).
How should we support the war?
  • Even if the war is judged to be a mistake, it should be supported once it has begun
    • 45% of participants disagreed with this statement, 40% agreed and 15% remained neutral
    • Men and women agreed with the statement in the same proportions (40%).
    • Respondents who had no college experience agreed more with this statement (50%) than those who had attended college (37%).
  • 68% of participants agree “It is possible to support the troops without supporting the war.”
    • 71% of women agreed as did 65% of men.
    • Respondents ages 18-35 agreed more with the statement (75%) than those ages 36 and above (67%).
    • Those participants with college experience were more likely to agree (72%) than those with no college experience (54%)
    • Participants with an annual household income greater than $50,000 agreed more with the statement (72%) than those with an household income of less than $50,000 (63%).
Public Officials and the War
  • It is unethical to publicly attack individuals for opposing a war.
    • 60% of participants agreed with this statement, 27% disagreed and 13% remained neutral.
    • Slightly more women (61%) than men (58%) agreed.
    • Respondents ages 18-35 were more likely to agree with the statement (65%) than those ages 36 and above (59%).
    • Those with no college experience agreed more (66%) than those who had attended college (59%).
    • Participants with an annual household income of less than $50,000 agreed more with the statement (64%) than those with a household income of greater than $50,000 (59%).
  • The statement “People criticize their country because they want to make it better” divided our participants.
    • 47% agreed with the statement, 34% disagreed and 19% remained neutral.
    • Slightly more men (49%) than women (45%) agreed with the statement.
    • Those with no college experience (54%) agreed more with the statement than those with college experience (45%).
  • The changing nature of war makes it unreasonable to create deadlines
    • 51% of participants agreed with the statement, 32% disagreed and 17% remained neutral.
    • Men and women agreed with the statement in the same proportions (51%).
    • Respondents with no college experience agreed more (61%) with the statement than those who had attended college (49%).
Views on War
Responses to various issues

War Sacrifices
  • It is unfair to extend combat tours of duty beyond the original assignments.
    • 55% of participants agreed with this statement, 25% disagreed and 19% remained neutral
    • Women (63%) were more likely to agree than men (46%).
    • Respondents ages 36 and above agreed more with the statement (59%) than those ages 18-35 (38%).
  • 70% of those polled agreed “It is wrong for citizens to expect only soldiers to bear the sacrifices of war.”
    • 22% disagreed with the statement and 9% remained neutral.
    • 75% of women agreed compared with only 63% of men.
    • Those ages 36 and above agreed more with the statement (71%) than those ages 18-35 (61%).
    • Participants who had college experience were more likely to agree with the statement (73%) than those who had no college experience (56%).
    • 75% of those with an annual household income greater than $50,000 agreed with the statement compared with 64% of those with a household income of less than $50,000.
Planning and War
  • The details of war should not be managed by legislators.
    • 57% of those polled agreed with this statement, 26% disagreed and 18% remained neutral.
    • More men (62%) than women (53%) agreed with the statement.
  • Planning for troop withdrawal means planning for surrender.
    • 68% disagreed with this statement, 24% agreed with the statement and 8% remained neutral.
    • Only 27% of men and 21% of women agreed with the statement.
What is success?
  • 57% of those polled agree “It is unfair to expect clearly defined outcomes from war.”
    • 28% disagreed with the statement and 15% remained neutral.
    • Women (61%) were more likely to agree than men (52%).
    • Participants ages 18-35 agreed more with the statement (64%) than those ages 36 and above (56%).
    • 69% of those with no college experience agreed with the statement compared with 54% who had attended college.
  • A war must be successful in order to justify the loss of life.
    • 54% of those polled disagreed with the statement, 25% agreed and 21% remained neutral.
    • The majority of men (56%) and women (52%) disagreed with the statement.
Are we safer?
  • The current war is making us safer.
    • 60% of participants disagreed with this statement, 28% agreed and 12% remained neutral.
    • More women (62%) than men (57%) disagreed with the statement.
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