National Constitution Center and Associated Press Poll Reveals Americans Oppose Government Intervention In The Economy
Give Government Low Marks on Protecting Security and Freedom; Failing Grade on Putting General Welfare over Special Interests; Strong Attachment to Rule of Law
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans oppose giving the federal government more power to improve the economy, and strongly oppose government intervention in private enterprise, according to a new poll on constitutional issues released today by the National Constitution Center and the Associated Press. The Center commissioned a similar poll in 2008, and intends to poll annually to see how responses change over time.
The 2009 poll found that Americans strongly oppose allowing the government to take partial ownership of private enterprise, even if it would prevent them from going out of business (71%) or losing jobs (66%), or if the failure of the industry would seriously harm the economy (60%).
In addition, results were split as to whether health care was something the government should ensure for all Americans.
In other findings, the poll shows that Americans generally have a strong attachment to constitutional values and an overall commitment to the ideals laid out in the Preamble of the Constitution, including the separation of power, rule of law, and protection of individual rights. In particular, 61% of Americans believe the rule of law should be followed, even if it comes at the expense of public safety. This result is up from 54% in 2008.
"It is encouraging to see the principles enshrined in the Constitution over 222 years ago are as essential to Americans today as they were when we were initially fighting for those fundamental liberties," said National Constitution Center President and CEO Linda E. Johnson. "Public opinion is the foundation of our democracy, and as America's Town Hall, the National Constitution Center is pleased to release this poll reflecting the American outlook, particularly during Constitution Week, as we celebrate the anniversary of the signing of this historic document."
In a Preamble index of questions, when asked to rate the job performance of the government in fulfilling its mandate, as spelled out by the framers in the Preamble of the Constitution, the public gave lower marks for security-related tasks than for social concerns:
Making sure the nation is safe from foreign and domestic threats: 58% good job; down from 62% in 2008
Making sure all Americans feel safe, secure, and free: 53% good job; down from 58% in 2008
Making sure all Americans are free to pursue happiness now and in the future: 46% good job; down from 55% in 2008
Making sure all people are treated equally: 48% good job; basically unchanged from 47% in 2008
Making America a better place: 43% good job; up slightly from 40% in 2008
Promoting the well-being of all Americans, not just special interests: 38% good job; no percentage change from 2008
The poll involved telephone interviews with 1,001 adults nationwide. The survey was conducted from September 3 through 8 by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media, and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center, located at 525 Arch St. on Philadelphia's Independence Mall, is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the U.S. Constitution and the ideas and values it represents. The Center serves as a museum, an education center, and a forum for debate on constitutional issues. The museum dramatically tells the story of the Constitution from Revolutionary times to the present through more than 100 interactive, multimedia exhibits, film, photographs, text, sculpture and artifacts, and features a powerful, award-winning theatrical performance, "Freedom Rising". The Center also houses the Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach, which serves as the hub for national constitutional education. Also, as a nonpartisan forum for constitutional discourse, the Center presents -- without endorsement -- programs that contain diverse viewpoints on a broad range of issues. For more information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.
About the AP
The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world, to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the largest and most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from AP.
