The Middle Tennessee Poll
Fall 1998
Part 2
1. So far as you and your family are concerned, would
you say that you are pretty well satisfied with your
present financial situation, more or less satisfied, or
not satisfied at all?
Percentages
Satisfied 39.7%
More or less satisfied 42.3
Not satisfied 17.7
Don't know .3
Total Cases (305) 100.0
2. Would you say that you and your family are better off,
or worse off, financially than you were a year ago?
Percentages
Better off 51.6%
Same 27.6
Worse off 19.7
Don't know 1.0
Total Cases (304) 100.0
3. Do you think a year from now you and your family will
be better off financially, or worse off, or just about
the same as now?
Percentages
Better off 40.3%
Same 47.2
Worse off 7.5
Don't know 4.9
Total Cases (305) 100.0
4. Now let's talk about crime and safety. How big a
problem is crime in your area? Is it a major problem, a
minor problem, or hardly any problem at all?
Percentages
Major problem 18.0%
Minor problem 45.6
Hardly any problem 34.8
Don't know 1.6
Total Cases (305) 100.0
5. Would you say you and your family are safer from crime
and violence or not as safe as you were a year ago?
Percentages
Safer 24.4%
Same 41.3
Not as safe 31.0
Don't know 3.3
Total Cases (303) 100.0
6. Is there any area near your home -- that is, within a
mile where you would be afraid to walk alone at
night?
Percentages
Yes 36.4%
No 61.6
Don't know 2.0
Total Cases (305) 100.0
7. How about at home at night -- do you feel safe and
secure, or not?
Percentages
Yes 89.8%
No 8.9
Don't know 1.3
Total Cases (305) 100.0
8. Now looking ahead ... do you think a year from now you
and your family will be safer from crime and violence,
not as safe or just about the same as now?
Percentages
Safer 10.9%
Same 65.8
Not as safe 20.4
Don't know 3.0
Total Cases (304) 100.0
9. Now, thinking about the coming week, how likely is it
that you will be the victim of a violent crime, one
that would involve shooting, beating or some other form
of physical harm? Are you very likely, somewhat likely,
slightly likely, or not at all likely?
Percentages
Very 2.6%
Somewhat 8.6
Slightly 23.7
Not at all 59.9
Don't know 5.3
Total Cases (304) 100.0
10. Again, in the coming week, how likely is it that you
will have your residence broken into in a burglary? Are
you very likely, somewhat likely, only slightly likely,
or not at all likely?
Percentages
Very 4.3%
Somewhat 12.5
Slightly 24.9
Not at all 55.7
Don't know 2.6
Total Cases (305) 100.0
11. How about the job police and law enforcement officials
are doing in protecting you and your family? Would you
say they are doing an excellent job, a good job, a fair
job, or a poor job?
Percentages
Excellent 18.4%
Good 43.6
Fair 29.2
Poor 6.6
Don't know 2.3
Total Cases (305) 100.0
12. Do you think that the presence of the Tennessee
Oilers professional football team will make living
in Middle Tennessee better, about the same, or worse?
Percentages
Better 38.5%
Same 40.8
Worse 15.8
Don't know 4.9
Total Cases (304) 100.0
13. Do you think the presence of the Nashville Predators
professional ice hockey team will make living in Middle
Tennessee better, about the same, or worse?
Percentages
Better 31.9%
Same 51.6
Worse 9.5
Don't know 6.9
Total Cases (304) 100.0
Do you think the presence of the Nashville Noise
women's professional basketball team will make living
in Middle Tennessee better, about the same, or worse?
Percentages
Better 31.1%
Same 52.8
Worse 6.6
Don't know 9.5
Total Cases (305) 100.0
15. Would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or
not too happy?
Percentages
Very happy 31.1%
Pretty happy 61.0
Not too happy 6.9
Don't know 1.0
Total Cases (305) 100.0
16. How about your health? Would you say your own health,
in general, is excellent, good, fair, or poor?
Percentages
Excellent 36.5%
Good 46.1
Fair 13.2
Poor 3.9
Don't know .3
Total Cases (304) 100.0
17. What about compared to last year? Would you say your
own health is now better, worse, or about the same as
it was last year?
Percentages
Better 20.8%
Same 65.0
Worse 13.9
Don't know .3
Total Cases (303) 100.0
18. And how about compared to next year? Would you say your
own health will be better, worse, or about the same as
it is this year?
Percentages
Better 35.2%
Same 52.3
Worse 4.6
Don't know 7.9
Total Cases (304) 100.0
19. Do you and your family, if any, have health insurance
that is adequate for your needs?
Percentages
Yes 88.9%
No 10.8
Don't know .3
Total Cases (305) 100.0
20. How satisfied are you with the state of race relations
in Middle Tennessee? Would you say very satisfied,
somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all
satisfied?
Percentages
Very 24.2%
Somewhat 49.3
Not too 17.2
Not at all 5.3
Don't know 4.0
Total Cases (302) 100.0
21. Over the past year, do you think that relations between
blacks and whites in this country have improved,
remained about the same, or have gotten worse?
Percentages
Improved 32.2%
Same 43.4
Worse 21.7
Don't know 2.6
Total Cases (304) 100.0
22. Which of the following statements most closely matches
your views: that racial discrimination is the main
reason why many black people can't get ahead these
days, or that blacks who can't get ahead in this
country are mostly responsible for their own condition?
Percentages
Racial discrimination 19.9%
Own responsible 61.5
Don't know 18.6
Total Cases (291) 100.0
23. Do you feel strongly about that, or not?
Percentages
Strongly 75.5%
Not strongly 19.8
Don't know 4.6
Total Cases (237) 100.0
24. As far as you know, are the people in your neighborhood
all the same race as you, is there a mixture of racial
groups, or are most people in your neighborhood of a
different race than you?
Percentages
Same 38.7%
Mixed 55.1
Different 4.3
Don't know 2.0
Total Cases (305) 100.0
25. When you hear the term, "affirmative action," does that
mean to you ... giving one race or other group an
advantage they don't deserve?
Percentages
Yes 36.4%
Not sure 11.8
No 40.4
Don't know 11.4
Total Cases (297) 100.0
26. Now let me read you the wording of a proposed
referendum on affirmative action. Would you vote in
favor or vote against this: "The State of Tennessee
will not use race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national
origin as a criterion for either discriminating
against, or granting preferential treatment
to, any individual or group?
Percentages
Yes 79.8%
Not sure 5.0
No 7.9
Don't know 7.3
Total Cases (302) 100.0
Many new people have come to Middle Tennessee in the
last few years. Please tell me whether you think that
the following groups have made life here better, or
about the same, or worse.
27. What about Mexicans and other Hispanics? Would you
say they've made life here better, about the same,
or worse?
Percentages
Better 15.4%
Same 47.8
Worse 27.8
Don't know 9.0
Total Cases (299) 100.0
28. What about Russians and people from other parts of
the former Soviet Union?
Percentages
Better 10.7%
Same 50.2
Worse 4.3
Don't know 34.8
Total Cases (299) 100.0
29. What about Chinese, Thais, Laotians, Koreans and other
Asians?
Percentages
Better 19.7%
Same 52.2
Worse 9.7
Don't know 18.4
Total Cases (299) 100.0
30. Suppose you had a teenage child who was old enough
to go out on dates. Would you mind if your teenager
dated someone from another race, or would that be
OK with you?
Percentages
Would mind 40.3%
Would not mind 48.5
Don't know 11.2
Total Cases (295) 100.0
|