Percentages summary Spring 1999 Middle Tennessee Poll The tables below summarize responses for each question posed during the Spring 1998 Middle Tennessee Poll. The percentages in each table indicate the proportion of respondents who chose each anwer. In the first question, for example, the table indicates that 81.1 percent of the respondents favor mandatory seatbelt use, while 16.6 percent oppose the idea and another 2.3 percent don't know. In all, 610 respondents gave a valid answer. Questions for which the "Total cases" equals only about 300 are questions that were posed to a randomly chosen half of the sample. The poll included eight major areas:
Topical Political Issues Module The state legislature is considering or has recently passed laws about a number of issues. We want to know how you feel about these issues. Do you feel that seatbelt use should be mandatory for all drivers and passengers? Yes 81.1% No 16.6% Don't know 2.3% Total Cases (610) 100.0% Do you feel that law enforcement officers should be able to stop motorists when they see that they or their passengers are not wearing seatbelts? Yes 54.8% No 40.8% Don't know 4.4% Total Cases (609) 100.0% Should the legislature make certain that rural teachers are paid an equivalent salary to those in urban areas? Yes 78.8% No 13.2% Don't know 7.9% Total Cases (608) 100.0% Should the legislature take steps to allow a state lottery in Tennessee? Yes 67.2% No 23.1% Don't know 9.7% Total Cases (609) 100.0% What if the state designated all of its lottery profits for education? Would you approve of a state lottery then? Yes 73.1% No 22.2% Don't know 4.8% Total Cases 100.0% Would you favor or oppose giving each Tennessean who votes a chance at winning, say, a million dollars as a way to improve voter turnout in elections? Favor 40.2% Oppose 51.9% Don't know 7.8% Total Cases (598) 100.0% Should the legislature lower the amount of alcohol needed to consider a driver intoxicated from point-one-oh to point-oh-eight? That is, should the legislature make it easier to charge and convict people of drunken driving? Yes 64.6% No 30.1% Don't know 5.2% Total Cases(609) 100.0% Currently teenagers are given a full drivers license when they pass all necessary tests. Some people are proposing that they should be given what is called a graduated license that gradually increases their privileges as they get older or pass more tests. Do you favor or oppose a graduated drivers license? Favor graduated license 61.6% Oppose graduated licese 32.7% Don't know 5.6% Total Cases 100.0% Should laws on teen smoking be made tougher, remain about the same, or be made easier? Be made easier 6.9% Remain same 32.8% Toughened 56.4% Don't know 3.9% Total Cases (605) 100.0% Do you think cities and counties should have the right to pass anti-smoking ordinances for restaurants and public buildings if they choose, or should this be determined by statewide laws? Cities/counties have right 53.6% Statewide laws 34.3% Don't know 12.2% Total Cases (595) 100.0% Do you think that the state should make more home-based care available to the elderly and disabled as an alternative to nursing home care? Yes 90.2% No 5.2% Don't know 4.7% Total Cases (606) 100.0% There are several privately run prisons in Tennessee. Should these prisons be allowed to hold convicts brought in from other states? Yes 21.5% No 68.3% Don't know 10.2% Total Cases (607) 100.0% Because of all of the highway construction around Tennessee, some people feel that the state now has too much money to spend on highways. Others feel that, because of growth, all the highway spending is necessary. How do you feel? Do you feel that there is too much money to spend on highways or that all the spending is necessary? Too much to spend on highways 21.5% All spending is necessary 67.1% Don't know 11.5% Total Cases (609) 100.0% The Tennessee Department of Transportation has been criticized for starting too many highway construction projects at the same time. Do you feel that too many were started at once, or not? Too many started 65.9% Not too many started 23.9% Don't know 10.2% Total Cases(609) 100.0% Governor Don Sundquist has proposed that Tennessee allow state funding of special-purpose charter schools that could be formed by parents, community groups, or even private firms. Charter schools might be exempt from certain state requirements but would receive state money. Those in favor of charter schools claim that they would foster innovation and improve education by giving regular public schools competition. Those opposed say they would hurt public education by channeling state funds to small groups with special interests without adequate regulation. Do you think charter schools are a good idea or a bad idea? Good idea 33.6% Bad idea 48.6% Don't know 17.9% Total Cases (596) 100.0% In some charter schools, teachers may not be required to be licensed like regular public school instructors. Teachers' unions oppose this lack of licensing. How do you feel? Do you think all teachers being paid by the state should be licensed, or do you think exceptions should be granted to teachers in some charter schools. All licensed 78.6% Not all licensed in charter schools 14.0% Don't know 7.3% Total Cases (602) 100.0% State legislators currently make about $16,000 per year for their part-time duties, plus travel and office expenses and pay for service when the legislature is out of session. Do you think pay for state senators and representatives should be raised, stay the same, or be lowered? Lowered 12.5% Same 52.4% Raised 24.6% Don't know 10.5% Total Cases (601) 100.0% Sales tax module Do you favor or oppose the governor's plan to eliminate the state sales tax on food? Favor 68.4% Oppose 22.2% Don't know 9.4% Total Cases (294) 100.0% Would you favor or oppose removing the tax if doing so meant raising taxes on large businesses? Favor 64.8% Oppose 21.4% Don't know 13.8% Total Cases (321) 100.0% Would you favor or oppose removing the tax if doing so meant raising taxes on small businesses? Favor 27.0% Oppose 59.9% Don't know 13.1% Total Cases (316) 100.0% Would you favor or oppose removing the tax if doing so meant raising taxes on medium-sized businesses that currently don't pay some of the taxes other businesses pay? Favor 53.9% Oppose 26.3% Don't know 19.8% Total Cases (320) 100.0% Approval of politicians module Do you approve or disapprove of the way Don Sundquist is handling his job as governor? Approve 67.9% Disapprove 13.7% Don't know 18.4% Total Cases (600) 100.0% Do you approve or disapprove of the job the Democratic leaders in the Tennessee State Legislature are doing? Approve 55.6% Disapprove 18.1% Don't know 26.3% Total Cases (602) 100.0% Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job as President? Approve 60.1% Disapprove 35.1% Don't know 4.8% Total Cases (599) 100.0% President Clinton has been impeached, tried and acquitted by Congress. At this point, how do you think future generations will regard Clinton? Will they regard him as a great president, a good president, a fair president, or a poor president? Poor 29.5% Fair 26.2% Good 30.3% Great 8.0% Don't know 6.0% Total Cases (609) 100.0% What about the current Congress? At this point, do you think future generations will regard this congress as a great Congress, a good Congress, a fair Congress, or a poor Congress? Poor 29.5% Fair 42.9% Good 18.4% Great 1.7% Don't know 7.5% Total Cases (609) 100.0% Education Module Do you currently have at least one child living with you who is high school aged or younger? Yes 40.6% No 59.3% Don't know .1% Total Cases (318) 100.0% On the whole, would you say you are satisfied or dissatisfied with your children's education? Satisfied 73.6% Dissatisfied 19.1% Don't know 7.3% Total Cases (492) 100.0% On the whole, would you say you are satisfied or dissatisfied with the education children are getting today? Satisfied 34.1% Dissatisfied 54.2% Don't know 11.8% Total Cases (441) 100.0% Please tell me whether you think each of the following types of schools does an excellent job, a good job, only a fair job, or a poor job of preparing its students for the future. Community and two-year colleges in Middle Tennessee. Excellent 5.2% Good 47.9% Fair 24.7% Poor 2.1% Don't know 20.1% Total Cases (324) 100.0% Vanderbilt University Excellent 36.6% Good 40.6% Fair 5.7% Poor .8% Don't know 16.2% Total Cases (325) 100.0% Smaller private colleges and universities in Middle Tennessee, such as Belmont University, David Lipscomb University, Martin Methodist College, and Trevecca Nazarene University. Excellent 18.7% Good 53.1% Fair 8.8% Poor .9% Don't know 18.5% Total Cases (316) 100.0% The state universities in Middle Tennessee, including Austin Peay State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, and Tennessee Technological University. Excellent 18.3% Good 55.0% Fair 11.3% Poor 1.1% Don't know 14.3% Total Cases(322) 100.0% The universities in the University of Tennessee System, including the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Martin. Excellent 16.3% Good 53.3% Fair 10.6% Poor .8% Don't know 19.0% Total Cases (322) 100.0% State technical institutions and technology centers in Middle Tennessee Excellent 11.2% Good 44.5% Fair 16.0% Poor .7% Don't know 27.6% Total Cases (324) 100.0% The public K-12 schools in Middle Tennessee Excellent 9.0% Good 33.7% Fair 35.1% Poor 10.5% Don't know 11.7% Total Cases (323) 100.0% Private K-12 schools in Middle Tennessee Excellent 13.9% Good 42.0% Fair 10.6% Poor 3.2% Don't know 30.4% Total Cases (322) 100.0% Do you think there are too many college graduates in Tennessee, about the right amount, or too few? Too few 42.5% About right 34.5% Too many 4.5% Don't know 18.4% Total Cases (322) 100.0% How do you think Tennessee's state-supported colleges and universities compare with those in nearby states? Are they better, about the same, or not as good? Better 9.8% About the same 55.7% Not as good 11.4% Don't know 23.1% Total Cases (322) 100.0% A special panel appointed by Gov. Don Sundquist reports that no state-supported college or university ranks among the top 100 nationally, while state universities in North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida score well. The panel recommends that more than 400 million dollars be spent in the next five years to improve Tennessee's state colleges and universities. Do you think this additional money should definitely be spent, probably be spend, or not spent at all? Definitely be spent 37.7% Probably be spent 42.7% Not spent at all 9.2% Don't know 10.5% Total Cases (322) 100.0% Currently, the state has two systems of colleges and universities governed by separate boards. One board controls the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Knoxville, Martin, and Memphis. Another board controls other state universities such as Austin Peay State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, and Tennessee Technological University. The governor's panel says such a system is not efficient. How do you feel? Do you think there should be one board for all Tennessee colleges and universities, or there be two separate boards, as we now have? One board 56.2% Two boards 24.6% Don't know 19.2% Total Cases (323) 100.0%0 State Spending module (14 questions) We are faced with many problems in Tennessee, none of which can be solved easily or inexpensively. I'm going to name some of these problems, and for each one I'd like you to tell me whether you think we're spending too much money on it, too little money, or about the right amount. First are we spending too much, too little, or about the right amount on TennCare, the program that insures poor people? Too little 44.1% About right 33.5% Too much 8.1% Don't know 14.3% Total Cases (597) 100.0% What about welfare programs for the poor? Are we spending too much, too little, or about the right amount? Too little 22.0% About right 33.1% Too much 32.9% Don't know 12.0% Total Cases (598) 100.0% What about state Universities? Are we spending too much, too little, or about the right Too little 44.7% About right 34.9% Too much 4.1% Don't know 16.3% Total Cases (604) 100.0% What about Community Colleges and Technical Schools? Too little 40.4% About right 37.1% Too much 2.7% Don't know 19.7% Total Cases (603) 100.0% Highway maintenance? Too little 22.2% About right 51.4% Too much 18.2% Don't know 8.2% Total Cases (607) 100.0% New highway construction? Too little 14.7% About right 52.2% Too much 24.0% Don't know 9.0% Total Cases (607) 100.0% The environment? Too little 55.1% About right 29.0% Too much 5.3% Don't know 10.7% Total Cases (606) 100.0% Elementary and secondary education? Too little 63.3% About right 24.7% Too much 3.1% Don't know 8.9% Total Cases (603) 100.0% State law enforcement agencies? Too little 40.8% About right 41.0% Too much 8.8% Don't know 9.4% Total Cases (602) 100.0% Programs for the handicapped? Too little 52.5% About right 29.9% Too much 1.5% Don't know 16.0% Total Cases (604) 100.0% Programs for the mentally retarded? Too little 57.4% About right 22.7% Too much 1.4% Don't know 18.5% Total Cases (605) 100.0% Foster care services? Too little 46.2% About right 26.5% Too much 2.9% Don't know 24.4% Total Cases (6070 100.0% Mental health? Too little 49.3% About right 29.2% Too much 2.3% Don't know 19.1% Total Cases (607) 100.0% And what about mass transportation, including bus and rail service? Too little 43.0% About right 35.0% Too much 6.7% Don't know 15.4% Total Cases (603) 100.0% As you may know, some states have sued major tobacco companies for money to pay for the cost of treating people with tobacco-related illnesses. The state of Tennessee, by agreeing not to sue, will receive $4.8% billion over the next 25 years from tobacco companies. Various groups are proposing to spend the money in different ways. How do you think Tennessee should spend it? Care for elderly 7.8% Aid to tobacco farmers 4.4% Discouraging teen smoking 6.2% Disease prevention 11.3% Tax cut 1.4% Education 36.7% Return to taxpayers 2.8% Other 14.8% Don't know 12.9% Total Cases (610) 100.0% Political talk module Now, I want to know, in general, how often do you talk about the following subjects. Do you talk about them often, sometimes, seldom, or never. How often do you talk about ... What the President, the national government and the Congress are doing Never 7.7% Seldom 14.0% Sometimes 27.8% Often 49.1% Don't know 1.4% Total Cases (296) 100.0% What your state and local governments are doing Never 11.1% Seldom 28.4% Sometimes 29.6% Often 29.9% Don't know 1.0% Total Cases (298) 100.0% What is happening in foreign countries Never 17.6% Seldom 30.9% Sometimes 29.0% Often 21.6% Don't know .9% Total Cases (298) 100.0% How the economy is doing Never 10.5% Seldom 21.5% Sometimes 23.5% Often 43.3% Don't know 1.2% Total Cases (296) 100.0% The crime situation and violence in society Never 5.1% Seldom 14.5% Sometimes 24.4% Often 55.0% Don't know 1.0% Total Cases (296) 100.0% What's going on in the schools and education Never 8.2% Seldom 21.2% Sometimes 23.1% Often 46.5% Don't know .9% Total Cases (296) 100.0% Now, we would like to know some of the reasons you talk about some of these issues. First, what about national, state and local government, foreign affairs, and the economy? These all relate to government and politics, so let's just call all of these things government and politics. How often do you talk about government and politics for the following reasons: Because other people are talking about government and politics Never 16.8% Seldom 18.5% Sometimes 36.1% Often 24.7% Don't know 4.0% Total Cases (297) 100.0% You need to vent your frustration about government and politics Never 23.8% Seldom 19.8% Sometimes 27.0% Often 26.1% Don't know 3.3% Total Cases (297) 100.0% Government and politics is interesting to talk about. Never 19.8% Seldom 22.4% Sometimes 29.7% Often 24.7% Don't know 3.4% Total Cases (297) 100.0% Government and politics affects your life directly. Never 16.3% Seldom 14.1% Sometimes 25.2% Often 39.7% Don't know 4.6% Total Cases (297) 100.0% You can mobilize people to do something about government and politics Never 36.0% Seldom 26.0% Sometimes 16.9% Often 17.4% Don't know 3.7% Total Cases (298) 100.0% Government and politics is in the news Never 10.6% Seldom 14.2% Sometimes 22.8% Often 49.0% Don't know 8.3% Total Cases (296) 100.0% You want to learn more about government and politics Never 20.9% Seldom 19.3% Sometimes 24.0% Often 32.9% Don't know 2.9% Total Cases (296) 100.0% People that you talk to know more about government and politics than you do Never 18.2% Seldom 23.9% Sometimes 32.8% Often 20.2% Don't know 4.9% Total Cases (296) 100.0% You like to argue about government and politics. Never 38.5% Seldom 23.7% Sometimes 17.6% Often 17.3% Don't know 2.9% Total Cases (300) 100.0% You want to understand government and politics better. Never 17.7% Seldom 15.1% Sometimes 27.7% Often 36.5% Don't know 3.0% Total Cases (297) 100.0% The people you talk to about government and politics agree with you. Never 22.1% Seldom 23.0% Sometimes 35.2% Often 16.9% Don't know 2.9% Total Cases (29) 100.0% Government and politics just gives you something to talk about. Never 33.1% Seldom 27.2% Sometimes 22.4% Often 14.8% Don't know 2.5% Total Cases (297) 100.0% You want to hear what other people think about government and politics. Never 19.5% Seldom 17.6% Sometimes 26.2% Often 23.7% Don't know 3.1% Total Cases (297) 100.0% You have an opinion regarding government and politics and want to convince others Never 23.4% Seldom 21.9% Sometimes 24.5% Often 26.1% Don't know 4.1% Total Cases (297) 100.0% The people you talk to have an opinion regarding government and politics and you want them to convince you Never 34.8% Seldom 27.6% Sometimes 20.4% Often 15.2% Don't know 1.9% Total Cases (297) 100.0% Now what about crime? How often do you talk about crime for the following reasons? Other people are talking about crime Never 14.6% Seldom 18.4% Sometimes 31.9% Often 31.7% Don't know 3.3% Total Cases (297) 100.0% You need to vent your frustration about crime Never 30.9% Seldom 19.9% Sometimes 21.2% Often 24.9% Don't know 3.1% Total Cases (294) 100.0% Crime is interesting to talk about. Never 27.6% Seldom 20.5% Sometimes 28.6% Often 18.7% Don't know 4.7% Total Cases (297) 100.0% Crime affects your life directly. Never 24.9% Seldom 19.6% Sometimes 18.8% Often 32.6% Don't know 4.1% Total Cases (297) 100.0% You can mobilize people to do something about crime Never 30.2% Seldom 25.2% Sometimes 23.8% Often 17.9% Don't know 2.9% Total Cases (294) 100.0% Crime is in the news Never 8.3% Seldom 10.5% Sometimes 27.6% Often 50.7% Don't know 2.8% Total Cases (295) 100.0% You want to learn more about crime Never 25.3% Seldom 26.6% Sometimes 22.3% Often 21.1% Don't know 3.7% Total Cases (295) 100.0% People that you talk to know more about crime than you do Never 22.0% Seldom 27.1% Sometimes 28.7% Often 18.1% Don't know 4.1% Total Cases (295) 100.0% You like to argue about crime. Never 49.6% Seldom 25.3% Sometimes 9.5% Often 12.5% Don't know 3.1% Total Cases (2970 100.0% You want to understand crime better. Never 25.2% Seldom 16.9% Sometimes 24.7% Often 28.0% Don't know 5.2% Total Cases (298) 100.0% The people you talk to about crime agree with you. Never 17.1% Seldom 15.2% Sometimes 33.0% Often 31.9% Don't know 2.8% Total Cases (295) 100.0% Crime just gives you something to talk about. Never 38.7% Seldom 23.8% Sometimes 20.0% Often 14.3% Don't know 3.3% Total Cases (316) 100.0% You want to hear what other people think about crime. Never 15.9% Seldom 18.0% Sometimes 33.0% Often 29.6% Don't know 3.5% Total Cases (294) 100.0% You have an opinion regarding crime and want to convince others Never 20.8% Seldom 19.2% Sometimes 25.8% Often 29.5% Don't know 4.7% Total Cases (295) 100.0% The people you talk to have an opinion regarding crime and you want them to convince you Never 29.8% Seldom 29.6% Sometimes 19.4% Often 16.3% Don't know 5.0% Total Cases (298) 100.0% And now we want to know about education. How often do you talk about education for the following reasons? Other people are talking about education Never 18.4% Seldom 15.5% Sometimes 30.0% Often 30.5% Don't know 5.7% Total Cases (464) 100.0% You need to vent your frustration about education Never 29.8% Seldom 22.6% Sometimes 14.6% Often 23.6% Don't know 9.5% Total Cases (456) 100.0% Education is interesting to talk about. Never 21.0% Seldom 10.2% Sometimes 22.4% Often 39.8% Don't know 6.5% Total Cases (167) 100.0% Education affects your life directly. Never 12.5% Seldom 9.2% Sometimes 17.8% Often 56.0% Don't know 4.4% Total Cases (152) 100.0% You can mobilize people to do something about education Never 27.3% Seldom 23.0% Sometimes 25.8% Often 19.5% Don't know 4.4% Total Cases (150) 100.0% Education is in the news Never 11.0% Seldom 19.1% Sometimes 33.4% Often 32.2% Don't know 4.4% Total Cases (160) 100.0% You want to learn more about education Never 13.3% Seldom 9.2% Sometimes 24.5% Often 4.4% Don't know 4.6% Total Cases (160) 100.0% People that you talk to know more about education than you do Never 22.0% Seldom 22.8% Sometimes 24.2% Often 25.8% Don't know 5.3% Total Cases (137) 100.0% You like to argue about education. Never 41.6% Seldom 24.4% Sometimes 17.0% Often 11.9% Don't know 5.2% Total Cases (161) 100.0% You want to understand education better. Never 12.1% Seldom 9.0% Sometimes 28.9% Often 45.0% Don't know 5.0% Total Cases (152) 100.0% The people you talk to about education agree with you. Never 18.4% Seldom 21.0% Sometimes 33.9% Often 20.8% Don't know 5.9% Total Cases (159) 100.0% Education just gives you something to talk about. Never 33.1% Seldom 27.5% Sometimes 18.9% Often 14.2% Don't know 6.2% Total Cases (155) 100.0% You want to hear what other people think about education. Never 14.7% Seldom 16.6% Sometimes 25.0% Often 38.4% Don't know 5.2% Total Cases (159) 100.0% You have an opinion regarding education and want to convince others Never 16.4% Seldom 17.8% Sometimes 24.4% Often 33.7% Don't know 7.7% Total Cases (151) 100.0% The people you talk to have an opinion regarding education and you want them to convince you Never 32.8% Seldom 20.8% Sometimes 23.6% Often 17.2% Don't know 5.5% Total Cases (313) 100.0% As you may have heard, some state leaders think that Tennessee should hire a private company to run the state's prison system. Others think the state should continue to run its own prison system. We want to know how you feel. Do you think turning the state's prison system over to a private company is a good idea or a bad idea? Good idea 25.0% Bad idea 59.9% Don't know 15.0% Total Cases (321) 100.0% On a scale of 1 to 6, where 1 means that the issue affects you personally *very little* and 6 means that you really feel *deeply involved* in this issue, where would you place yourself on the prison privatization issue? 1 very little 30.8% 2 13.0% 3 20.4% 4 12.3% 5 4.0% 6 deeply involved 10.9% Don't know 8.6% Total Cases (325) 100.0% On some issues people feel that they really have all the information that they need in order to form a strong opinion on that issue, while on other issues they would like to get additional information before solidifying their opinion. On a scale of 1 to 6, where 1 means that you feel you definitely need *more* information on the issue and 6 means that you do *not* feel you need to have any more information on the issue, where would you place yourself on the prison privatization issue? 1 need more info 27.8% &n |