[Doug64]

Here's last weekend's round-up of polls. Anyone that wants to check out any possible links over the next week can go to the link to the left. (Anyone wanting more details on a particular poll, just ask):

Americans are feeling record level economic confidence going into Christmas and the new year, and Congress’ passage this week of the biggest reform of the U.S. tax code in decades is likely to fan the flames even higher.

Two-out-of-three Republicans (66%) and 50% of voters not affiliated with either major party think tax cuts help the economy. But just 22% of Democrats agree.

Most voters—and even nearly half of Democrats—said last month that it was important that Congress pass tax reform legislation by the year’s end. Earlier this month, however, just 49% thought tax cuts were likely by the end of the year.

Congress also agreed to a temporary budget deal to avoid a government shutdown. Most voters think a shutdown would be bad for the economy, although the vast majority admit that past shutdowns have had little, if any, impact on them personally.

Voters are feeling optimistic again about the country’s future. But still only 35% think the country is headed in the right direction.

The president in a major America First national security speech on Monday announced plans for a layered system to defend the country against missile attacks. Voters strongly support the idea of an enhanced missile defense system since they don't have much confidence in the ability of what we've developed so far to protect the country.

Just 30% think U.S. foreign policy in recent years has put America first. Ninety-four percent (94%) agree with the president that a strong economy is important to U.S. national security, with 70% who say it is Very Important.

National security now ties the Trump administration’s alleged ties to Russia as voters’ number one concern.

But with recent news reports and e-mails showing anti-Trump bias by several senior level FBI and Justice Department officials, nearly half of voters now believe there was an illegal effort last year to deny Trump the presidency.

The president ended the week with a 44% job approval rating in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

After starting off at a record pace, Americans have slowed their holiday shopping, with a sizable number who still hadn’t started with Christmas just a weekend away. But only 40% had finished the holiday shopping at the beginning of the week.

Americans overwhelmingly continue to celebrate Christmas, and it remains the nation's top holiday, edging out Independence Day as the most important holiday of the year for Americans.

But 74% think Christmas is over-commercialized. Sixty-eight percent (68%) believe Christmas should be more about Jesus Christ than about Santa Claus.

For most Americans, there’s no place like home for the holidays. Christmas cards appear to be a tradition that’s falling by the wayside, though.

A sizable majority, however, plans to make a charitable donation of some kind again this year.

In other surveys last week:

-- Trump is expected to push a massive government-private program to repair America’s infrastructure early in the new year. While Americans don’t think too highly of infrastructure where they live, just 35% are willing to pay anything extra in taxes to upgrade it.

-- Voters approve of the president’s plans for joint government-private sector missions to the moon.

-- But just 30% of Americans would travel into space on a commercial flight if they could afford it.

And in honor of the season, a couple of polls of American Adults about Christmas.

Are you planning to travel away from home this holiday season?

• Yes 23%
• No 71%
• Not sure 6%

Are any friends or relatives traveling to your home to visit this holiday season?

• Yes 45%
• No 48%
• Not sure 8%

Which will you be celebrating this holiday season?

• Christmas 85%
• Hanukkah 3%
• Kwanzaa 1%
• The Winter Solstice or Yule 2%
• Some other religious observance 2%
• Some personal milestone 1%
• You won't be celebrating anything 3%
• Not sure 3%

Should religious symbols like Christmas Nativity scenes, Hanukkah menorahs and Muslim crescents be allowed on public land?

• Yes 70%
• No 18%
• Not sure 11%

Republicans

• Yes 79%
• No 14%
• Not sure 7%

Independents

• Yes 69%
• No 18%
• Not sure 13%

Democrats

• Yes 64%
• No 22%
• Not sure 14%

Should Christmas be celebrated in public schools?

• Yes 73%
• No 18%
• Not sure 9%

Republicans

• Yes 68%
• No 21%
• Not sure 10%

Independents

• Yes 66%
• No 21%
• Not sure 12%

Democrats

• Yes 68%
• No 21%
• Not sure 10%

[Doug64]

And for a year-end non-Rasmussen polling company, here's Pew Research's 17 striking findings from 2017:

1. Partisan divides dwarf demographic differences on key political values.
2. Donald Trump’s presidency has had a major impact on how the world sees the United States.
3. About four-in-ten Americans say they live in a gun-owning household, while three-in-ten say they personally own a gun.
4. Democrats and Republicans disagree now more than ever on the news media’s “watchdog” role.
5. Muslims are projected to be the world’s fastest-growing major religious group in the decades ahead.
6. In the U.S., Hispanic identity fades across generations as distance from immigrant roots grows.
7. Americans see fundamental differences between men and women, but men and women have different views on the cause of these differences.
8. Many Americans expect certain professions to be dominated by automation in their lifetime – but few see their own jobs at risk.
9. The share of Republicans who hold negative views of the effect of colleges and universities on the country has grown significantly since 2015.
10. Immigrants are projected to play the primary role in the growth of the American working-age population in the coming decades.
11. News stories about President Trump’s first 60 days in office offered far more negative assessments than they did of prior administrations.
12. In the past 10 years, the share of U.S. adults living without a spouse or partner has increased.
13. About half of 2.2 million people who sought asylum in Europe during the 2015 and 2016 refugee surge were still in limbo at the end of 2016 and did not know if they would be allowed to stay.
14. About eight-in-ten Americans say they understand the risks and challenges of police work, but 86% of police say the public does not understand.
15. About six-in-ten Americans ages 18 to 29 say the primary way they watch television now is with streaming services on the internet.
16. Views on whether whites benefit from societal advantages that blacks do not have are split sharply along racial and partisan lines.
17. Science knowledge is closely related to expectations for harm from climate change among Democrats, but not among Republicans.

[Doug64]

And just for fun, here's a comparison of Obama and Trump's 1st year monthly job approval averages:

[Doug64]

Here's last weekend's round-up of polls. Anyone that wants to check out any possible links over the next week can go to the link to the left. (Anyone wanting more details on a particular poll, just ask):

What has been perhaps the most tumultuous year in American politics since the Clinton administration is ending this week on a positive note for the Trump administration and most Americans.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed Thursday at another record high and up 28% since the 2016 presidential election.

At the close of the holiday season, Americans are feeling better about 2017 than they had by the end of 2016, a reflection perhaps of the record-setting level of economic confidence at year’s end.

Trump is ending his first year in office with virtually the same job approval ratings that Barack Obama earned on Dec. 29, 2009, at the end of his first year as president. On that date, 46% of voters approved of the job Obama was doing; 53% disapproved.

Late last week, the United Nations general assembly voted 128-9 in favor of a resolution condemning U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Prior to the vote, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and the Trump administration warned the international organization that countries opposing the move could face a significant decrease in U.S. financial support. They kept their word, announcing major cuts to its UN budget for the 2018-2019 year, and U.S. voters are cautiously optimistic about the job she is doing with the international organization.

Reports at week’s end of Chinese ships violating UN oil sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons program led to a sharp response from Trump about his administration’s position on trade with China. After his trip to Asia in November, voters were modestly optimistic on the future of Chinese-American relations.

Congressional Republicans, with Trump, have finally succeeded — after more than 35 years of debate — in authorizing oil drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge even though more voters than ever are opposed to it.

Voters remain strong believers in the development of new energy sources and U.S. energy independence, but support for further gas and oil development continues to fall.

Trump will soon begin to focus on his plan for upgrading U.S. infrastructure.

Even after the tragic Amtrak derailment outside Tacoma, Washington, last week, most Americans believe mass transit is safe, even if they don’t use it often.

Meanwhile, Americans aren’t as determined to start the coming year off on a new foot as they were to start 2017, with just 39% of American Adults planning to make New Year’s resolutions.

In other surveys last week:

-- Americans continue to rank Christmas as the nation’s top holiday, and most had planned to attend a religious service to honor the holiday.

-- Americans will be welcoming the new year from the comfort of their own homes, though many will be sharing a kiss, too.

-- Thirty-eight percent (38%) of voters now think the country is heading in the right direction.

So, at the end of the year, Rasmussen asked American Adults:

Looking back, how would you rate the year 2017?

• One of the best years ever 10%
• An excellent year 11%
• A good year 24%
• A fair year 27%
• A poor year 26%
• Not sure 2%

Republicans

• One of the best years ever 15%
• An excellent year 22%
• A good year 35%
• A fair year 17%
• A poor year 10%
• Not sure 0%

Independents

• One of the best years ever 6%
• An excellent year 10%
• A good year 23%
• A fair year 32%
• A poor year 26%
• Not sure 3%

Democrats

• One of the best years ever 9%
• An excellent year 4%
• A good year 17%
• A fair year 29%
• A poor year 40%
• Not sure 1%

[Doug64]

And to round out how Likely Voters have foreseen the nation's future throughout Obama and Trump's first years:

[Doug64]

Here's last weekend's round-up of polls. Anyone that wants to check out any possible links over the next week can go to the link to the left. (Anyone wanting more details on a particular poll, just ask):

Charging bulls drove stock markets to record highs this week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average passing 25,000 without apparent indications of a reversal anytime soon.

Strong economic confidence at the start of 2018 is evident with the overall Rasmussen Reports Economic Index reaching its highest level since President Trump took office and in three years of tracking. But Americans’ spending slowed following a busy holiday shopping season.

The Department of Labor’s unemployment numbers for December, released yesterday, show unemployment holding at a 17-year low and confidence in the job market has risen to a new high.

Despite the economic optimism, voters living in so-called blue states are more likely than those in red states to have had their taxes raised in recent years and less likely to see an improved economic picture where they live.

Socially, while Baltimore is facing its highest homicide rates to date, New York City's crime rate is reaching record lows this year. More Americans in the rest of the country also say crime is down where they live.

All things considered and love him or hate him, voters agree President Trump is charting the course for the country.

Trump continues to rewrite the foreign affairs playbook in which policy is measured in part by U.S. economic support.

After the United Nations general assembly voted two weeks ago to condemn the United States for announcing the move of its embassy to Jerusalem, the Trump administration last week made good on its threat to decrease U.S. financial support for the organization.

This week, the U.S. government has suspended hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Pakistan, and most voters think that’s a good idea.

President Trump continues to tweet his strong support for pro-democracy protesters in Iran and his criticism of the authoritarian regime they hope to replace, prompting an angry response from the Iranian government. But few voters think he’s gone too far.

Still, nearly half of Democrats think there’s a good chance President Trump won’t make it to the end of his first term in office, but two-out-of-three Republicans see four more years in Trump’s future.

In other surveys last week:

-- The president finished up the year with a 43% full-month job approval rating, unchanged from the previous three months.

-- Forty percent (40%) of Likely U.S. Voters now think the country is heading in the right direction.

-- While Americans don’t consider New Year’s Day all that important, more than half are feeling good about 2018, even if they aren’t as high on the upcoming year as they have been in recent years.

So, things have been getting "interesting" with Pakistan lately, here's what Likely Voters think:

Generally speaking, is Pakistan an ally of the United States, an enemy of the United States or somewhere in between?

• Ally 8%
• Enemy 18%
• Somewhere in between 62%
• Not sure 11%

Conservatives

• Ally 7%
• Enemy 25%
• Somewhere in between 59%
• Not sure 8%

Moderates

• Ally 9%
• Enemy 15%
• Somewhere in between 64%
• Not sure 12%

Liberals

• Ally 10%
• Enemy 12%
• Somewhere in between 64%
• Not sure 14%

If U.S. officials conclude that Pakistan is not doing enough to help fight terrorism, should the United States suspend all or at least part of the military and financial aid it gives to Pakistan?

• Yes 53%
• No 23%
• Not sure 24%

Conservatives

• Yes 76%
• No 12%
• Not sure 11%

Moderates

• Yes 45%
• No 23%
• Not sure 31%

Liberals

• Yes 31%
• No 37%
• Not sure 32%

[Doug64]

Here's last weekend's round-up of polls. Anyone that wants to check out any possible links over the next week can go to the link to the left. (Anyone wanting more details on a particular poll, just ask):

Democrats seem to live outrage to outrage in the Trump era, but even they admit it hasn’t been a very effective political strategy.

Only 10% of Democrats believe efforts by national Democrats to oppose the president have been a success so far. They aren't overly confident that their legislators in Congress will be able to stop Trump's agenda in the future either.

At the same time, voters across the political spectrum continue to believe that the Republican president has only just begun to undo the achievements of his predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama.

Desperate for someone with firepower to challenge Trump in 2020, Democrats and their media allies have now seized on TV personality Oprah Winfrey following her impassioned speech against sexual harassment at last weekend’s Golden Globes ceremony. Oprah edges the president in a hypothetical election matchup.

Generally speaking, however, just 12% of Americans think most Hollywood celebrities are good role models.

Voters are closely divided, though, when asked if any of the major power players in Washington, D.C. - the president, the Republican Party or the Democratic Party - have a plan for where they want to take the country.

Meanwhile, with the unemployment rate falling and the economy booming, Trump ends the week with a 46% job approval rating, comparable to where Obama was at this stage of his presidency [average for the week 44% Approval/55% Disapproval]. [ Gallup has announced that it is ending its daily presidential tracking poll which means Rasmussen Reports is now the only survey firm still tracking presidential job approval on a daily basis.]

Highlighting the usual disconnect between those inside the Beltway and those out in the real America, Washington is buzzing about the new anti-Trump book, Fire and Fury, but just 16% of voters say they are Very Likely to read it. Only 36% think it’s an accurate portrayal of the Trump White House.

Voters last fall were evenly divided over whether Trump was a bigger danger to the United States than North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, whom the U.S. president had just nicknamed “Rocket Man” in a speech to the United Nations. Prior to that speech, Kim had been ratcheting up his threats to launch a nuclear-armed missile at the United States for months, but the recent peaceful overtures by North Korea suggest that Trump has backed him down.

With the president and North Korean leader talking more diplomatically and North Korea sending athletes to the Winter Olympics in neighboring South Korea, fears of a nuclear attack from the rogue regime in Pyongyang are lessening here.

It doesn’t hurt either that Trump announced in December that the United States would be deploying a layered missile defense system to defend the country against missile attacks. Voters strongly support the idea of an enhanced missile defense system since they don't have much confidence in the ability of what we've developed so far.

Most voters agree with the president’s decision to suspend U.S. aid to Pakistan until it does more to fight terrorism. But then most also agree with Trump that U.S. foreign aid to other countries isn't a good deal for America.

In other surveys last week:

— Thirty-eight percent (38%) of voters say the country is headed in the right direction.

— Despite Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ intention to get tough on states that have legalized marijuana, most voters want to keep marijuana regulated at the state level. Voters strongly believe the federal war on drugs isn’t working, but they also don’t think we’re spending enough on it.

— California is the most recent state to make recreational marijuana legal. Forty-nine percent (49%) of voters now favor the legalization of recreational marijuana use in their state, the highest level of support in several years of regular surveying.

— While online shopping may be all the rage, it seems to be catching on more slowly when it comes to food.

[Doug64]

So, now the Trump administration wants to make work requirements for the able-bodied on Medicaid a possibility for those states that want it, the Kentucky governor has submitted a plan to the feds including such work requirements that has been accepted, there have been threats of lawsuits, and said governor has threatened to revoke the Medicaid expansion under Obamacare if any lawsuits are filed.

So here's what American Adults think of work requirements.

Medicaid is a federal-state program that provides health insurance for more than 70 million low-income Americans. Should childless, able-bodied adults in your state be required to work as a condition for receiving Medicaid?

• Yes 64%
• No 22%
• Not sure 14%

Republicans

• Yes 81%
• No 9%
• Not sure 10%

Independents

• Yes 67%
• No 20%
• Not sure 13%

Democrats

• Yes 47%
• No 36%
• Not sure 17%

Do current government programs increase the level of poverty in America or decrease the level of poverty in America? Or do they have no impact on the level of poverty?

• Increase 45%
• Decrease 19%
• They have no impact on the level of poverty 20%
• Not sure 16%

Republicans

• Increase 57%
• Decrease 11%
• They have no impact on the level of poverty 19%
• Not sure 14%

Independents

• Increase 45%
• Decrease 18%
• They have no impact on the level of poverty 19%
• Not sure 18%

Democrats

• Increase 36%
• Decrease 25%
• They have no impact on the level of poverty 24%
• Not sure 15%

[Drlee]

This poll is a great example of the stupidity of some Americans and the ignorance of others. It does not begin with any essential fact and then lumps all kinds of stuff together. I will demonstrate:

The first one asks about "government programs". Tell me what that means? Does it mean road building? Here is an example.

The current federal expenditure for TANF (what is classiclly known as welfare is $22bn. Unemployment insurance is $30 bn. There is no difference for most people on how these are funded. They are both just line items in the federal budget.

Now every one of the mental midgets who voted that it did not reduce poverty might change their tune if they add into the mix the $228 billion we spend on Medicaid. Whether or not you believe it is "right" there can be no doubt it lowers poverty in America. Medical care is already the number one cause of bankruptcy. This is a no brainer. And Medicare (a government program) and clearly it reduces poverty. Take Food Stamps. 75 billion. This is a direct subsidy from the taxpayers to employers. Why? Because if these employers pay the minimum wage that the republicans refuse to raise, the recipients are frequently below the federal poverty level.

Now for our mouth-breathing friends who do not understand this nonsense (as the poll clearly shows) most of the money from most of these programs goes to people who are working full time or are temporarily between jobs. Most food stamp money and medicaid goes to working people. Same with the child health care program. By far and away the most ignored subsidy for business are the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit. (Your Mormons should love these as they get a disproportionate amount of the later). About $120 billion that should be paid by employers but are rather paid by the taxpayers. Particularly childless taxpayers like my wife and I who do not directly benefit from this nor ever could.

So when I see polls like this I understand that they are about attitudes. But I also understand that they are founded in ignorance and exacerbated by misinformation.



Unemployment insurance? That is one of the biggest.

[Doug64]

And on a different subject, what with the excitement caused by Senator Durbin's decision to make public a private conversation, here's what Likely Voters think of the ongoing accusations that Trump is a racist:

Which is closer to your point of view – that President Trump is a racist or that his opponents are accusing him of racism for political gain?

• President Trump is a racist 50%
• Trump's opponents are accusing him of racism for political gain 43%
• Not sure 7%

Republicans

• President Trump is a racist 21%
• Trump's opponents are accusing him of racism for political gain 73%
• Not sure 6%

Independents

• President Trump is a racist 48%
• Trump's opponents are accusing him of racism for political gain 47%
• Not sure 6%

Democrats

• President Trump is a racist 79%
• Trump's opponents are accusing him of racism for political gain 12%
• Not sure 9%

Whites

• President Trump is a racist 45%
• Trump's opponents are accusing him of racism for political gain 49%
• Not sure 5%

Blacks

• President Trump is a racist 75%
• Trump's opponents are accusing him of racism for political gain 19%
• Not sure 6%

Others

• President Trump is a racist 51%
• Trump's opponents are accusing him of racism for political gain 34%
• Not sure 15%

[Drlee]

And on a different subject, what with the excitement caused by Senator Durbin's decision to make public a private conversation, here's what Likely Voters think of the ongoing accusations that Trump is a racist:

A meeting in the Whitehouse to discuss a major piece of legislation affecting millions of people is NOT a "private conversation".

Good grief.

What is stunning about the above poll, and what everyone should see is that 50% of Americans believe their president is a racist. That is beyond belief. Yet republicans continue to support him because......racism one must assume.

[Doug64]

Here's last weekend's round-up of polls. Anyone that wants to check out any possible links over the next week can go to the link to the left. (Anyone wanting more details on a particular poll, just ask):

At the end of a week in which stock markets continued their record roar and Senate Democrats growled the necessity of tying a government funding deal to support for DACA, Democrats, joined by four Republicans, voted late last night against stopgap funding to keep government open. Their vote, contradicting a funding measure the House approved Thursday night and shuttering the federal government, comes on the first anniversary of President Trump’s first term in office.

However, most voters have said a shutdown would be bad for the economy, even if the vast majority admit that past shutdowns have had little, if any, impact on them personally.

In fact, American workers are more confident than ever that they will get a salary boost in the near future, and most continue to believe the best opportunity for career advancement is to stay put.

Ten states so far are planning to impose work requirements on able-bodied Medicaid recipients, and most Americans think that’s a good idea.

But with some states planning ways to tighten their Medicaid and food stamp rolls, Americans still believe that too many count on the government for cash and that government welfare programs hurt more than they help.

While illegal immigration continues to be a contentious issue in Congress, fewer Americans now feel threatened that illegal immigrants are taking their jobs.

But more voters now believe most immigrants work hard to pursue the American Dream, and they have a favorable opinion of those who are working toward that dream.

Lost in the furor over whether President Trump used off-color language in a private discussion of legal immigration is the issue he was addressing: Why isn’t the United States admitting higher skilled, better-educated immigrants? Maybe it’s because voters themselves are conflicted.

Still, voters tend to believe prominent Democrats who accuse Trump of being a racist for championing the bringing of higher educated, more skilled immigrants to America. Overwhelming majorities of voters who Strongly Approve or Strongly Disapprove of the president hold opposing views on the issue.

Under that accusation, and having replaced America’s first black president, more voters think the government is not doing enough to improve conditions for America’s black youth, though they think they are ultimately responsible for improving their own situation.

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Americans had a marginally more promising outlook on race relations than they did six months ago.

But more Americans than ever believe King’s dreams of equal opportunity in the country still aren’t a reality.

In other surveys last week:

-- The Trump administration has announced that it will allow oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters, although Florida quickly obtained an exemption and other states are expected to follow. However, voter support for offshore drilling has fallen dramatically to its lowest level in 10 years of regular surveying.

-- More Americans now say they have tattoos, but few regret them.

-- Forty percent (40%) of voters now think the country is heading in the right direction. That compares to 30% two years ago at this time in Barack Obama’s final year as president.

[Doug64]

And with the recent excitement over immigration policy, here's the latest Rasmussen poll of US Likely Voters:

In thinking about immigration policy, should the United States treat all potential immigrants equally or should the United States allow more immigrants from some countries than from others?

• The United States should treat all potential immigrants equally 60%
• The United States should allow more immigrants from some countries than from others 29%
• Not sure 12%

Republicans

• The United States should treat all potential immigrants equally 46%
• The United States should allow more immigrants from some countries than from others 44%
• Not sure 10%

Independents

• The United States should treat all potential immigrants equally 58%
• The United States should allow more immigrants from some countries than from others 26%
• Not sure 16%

Democrats

• The United States should treat all potential immigrants equally 75%
• The United States should allow more immigrants from some countries than from others 16%
• Not sure 9%

Should the United States treat all potential immigrants equally or should the United States give preference to those with higher levels of education and better economic prospects?

• The United States should treat all potential immigrants equally 55%
• The United States should give preference to those with higher levels of education and better economic prospects 36%
• Not sure 9%

Republicans

• The United States should treat all potential immigrants equally 41%
• The United States should give preference to those with higher levels of education and better economic prospects 51%
• Not sure 9%

Independents

• The United States should treat all potential immigrants equally 49%
• The United States should give preference to those with higher levels of education and better economic prospects 36%
• Not sure 15%

Democrats

• The United States should treat all potential immigrants equally 74%
• The United States should give preference to those with higher levels of education and better economic prospects 20%
• Not sure 5%

The majority of immigrant visas awarded in the United States are based on a family relationship. A proposal has been made to award visas instead on the level of skills a potential immigrant brings to this country. Do you favor moving to a merit-based system for legal immigration or prefer to keep the existing family-based system?

• You favor moving to a merit-based system for legal immigration 47%
• You prefer to keep the existing family-based system 36%
• Not sure 18%

Republicans

• You favor moving to a merit-based system for legal immigration 61%
• You prefer to keep the existing family-based system 23%
• Not sure 16%

Independents

• You favor moving to a merit-based system for legal immigration 46%
• You prefer to keep the existing family-based system 33%
• Not sure 21%

Democrats

• You favor moving to a merit-based system for legal immigration 33%
• You prefer to keep the existing family-based system 51%
• Not sure 17%

[Doug64]

Here's last weekend's round-up of polls. Anyone that wants to check out any possible links over the next week can go to the link to the left. (Anyone wanting more details on a particular poll, just ask):

President Trump at week’s end was encouraging other world leaders to join in the new American economic boom.

Fifty-four percent (54%) of working Americans believe they will be earning more a year from now, the highest level of confidence in several years of regular surveying. Economic and consumer confidence remain at or near record highs.

Still, just 51% of voters believe the U.S. economy is fair. Only 39% think the county is headed in the right direction, although that’s an improvement over the Obama years.

Ninety-four percent (94%) agree with Trump that a strong economy is essential to U.S. national security.

The president this week imposed heavy tariffs on foreign manufacturers of washing machines and solar panels to protect U.S. businesses. Americans by a two-to-one margin think protective tariffs are a good way to go.

Supporters of international free trade have been critical of the president’s decision to impose the tariffs and argue that they will drive up the cost of consumer goods. But 73% of Americans said in the midst of the 2016 presidential campaign that it is more important to keep manufacturing jobs in the United States than it is to keep prices low for U.S. consumers.

Democrats are far more worried than Republicans that last weekend’s abortive federal government shutdown will have a negative impact on the economy, but even most Democrats agree it won’t affect them personally.

The president claimed victory over congressional Democrats by defeating the shutdown effort. His job approval ratings have been in the mid-40s for most of the week.

With more startling disclosures of anti-Trump behavior at the highest levels of the FBI, voters think a special prosecutor is needed to see if the nation’s top cops have been playing politics.

Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Democrats believe Trump is a racist, but 73% of Republicans say his opponents are just accusing him of racism for political gain. Seventy-two percent (72%) of all voters think most politicians raise racial issues just to get elected. Only 13% think they raise these issues to address real problems.

Several black members of Congress have been calling for the president’s impeachment for months and now are boycotting his upcoming State of the Union speech over his criticism of Haiti and some nations in Africa. But very few voters think this continuing confrontation is good for the black community.

The White House is urging Congress to pass an immigration reform plan that provides a pathway to citizenship for those brought here illegally when they were children in exchange for ending chain migration for extended family members and providing funds to build a border wall. Sixty-one percent (61%) of voters think it is important to secure the border before dealing with the so-called Dreamers children issue.

Forty-seven percent (47%) favor Trump’s plan for a merit-based system for legal immigration over the existing family-based system. Thirty-six percent (36%) prefer to keep the current system, while 18% are undecided.

Some legislators in California want large companies to give over at least half the savings they get from the new national tax reform bill to the state government. But most voters aren't ready to go that way in their state.

With the “Calexit” campaign going strong on the left coast, 35% of Republicans think it would be good for the country if California left the union to become a separate country, but just 13% of Democrats and 20% of those not affiliated with either major political party agree.

California has internal secession problems, too. A group calling itself New California hopes to break away from the more liberal and more affluent coastal areas of the state. Just a bare majority (51%) of Americans thinks sections of individual states don’t have the right to secede and form a new state.

As Puerto Rico continues to stumble through its recovery from Hurricane Maria, a new high of 47% of Americans think the longtime island commonwealth should be a state. But only 25% favor making Washington, D.C. a state.

In other surveys last week:

-- Politics even colors voter perceptions of the president’s health, regardless of what his doctor says.

-- A former CIA officer has been arrested for allegedly spying for China. Voters overwhelmingly consider spying a serious threat to the United States but worry a bit more about Russia than they do about China.

-- Sixty-four percent (64%) of Americans are concerned that Amazon’s continuing success will force smaller Mom and Pop stores and larger box stores out of business in their area.

And here's a few more questions on taxes (the first two American Adults, the second two Likely Voters):

Does the government do too much to protect U.S. manufacturers and businesses from foreign competition or not enough? Or is the level of protection about right?

• Too much 12%
• Not enough 44%
• The level of protection is about right 25%
• Not sure 19%

Republicans

• Too much 12%
• Not enough 49%
• The level of protection is about right 24%
• Not sure 15%

Independents

• Too much 9%
• Not enough 42%
• The level of protection is about right 23%
• Not sure 26%

Democrats

• Too much 15%
• Not enough 42%
• The level of protection is about right 27%
• Not sure 16%

Some countries pay their workers far less than American workers are paid. Manufactured items from such countries often cost less than comparable American products. Should the federal government place tariffs on goods from countries that pay very low wages to their workers?

• Yes 50%
• No 26%
• Not sure 24%

Republicans

• Yes 53%
• No 23%
• Not sure 23%

Independents

• Yes 45%
• No 27%
• Not sure 28%

Democrats

• Yes 52%
• No 27%
• Not sure 21%

A proposal is being considered in California which would require large companies to give over half the savings they get from the new national tax reform bill to the state. Would such a tax proposal be good or bad for the state economically, or would it have no impact?

• Good 33%
• Bad 36%
• It will have no impact 9%
• Not sure 22%

Republicans

• Good 23%
• Bad 50%
• It will have no impact 8%
• Not sure 19%

Independents

• Good 32%
• Bad 36%
• It will have no impact 10%
• Not sure 22%

Democrats

• Good 43%
• Bad 23%
• It will have no impact 9%
• Not sure 25%

Do you favor such a tax on the savings big companies get from the tax reform bill in your state?

• Yes 36%
• No 39%
• Not sure 24%

Republicans

• Yes 33%
• No 44%
• Not sure 23%

Independents

• Yes 37%
• No 35%
• Not sure 28%

Democrats

• Yes 38%
• No 38%
• Not sure 23%

[Drlee]

Ninety-four percent (94%) agree with Trump that a strong economy is essential to U.S. national security.

Here is yet another example of how partisan Rasmussen is. "agree with Trump". Can anyone think of somebody who does not believe a strong economy is essential to national security? This is a typical fatuous political statement made under the guise of a poll.

Rasmussen is so partisan it is an embarrassment that we post the results here unopposed.

[Doug64]

Here is yet another example of how partisan Rasmussen is. "agree with Trump". Can anyone think of somebody who does not believe a strong economy is essential to national security? This is a typical fatuous political statement made under the guise of a poll.

The actual question asked didn't mention Trump at all, and 4% overall (6% of Democrats versus 2% of Republicans) considered it "not very important" so obviously there are some out there. And considering how the Democrats seem to have a knee-jerk opposition to any position Trump takes, isn't it nice to see that there is something they agree with him on?

[Drlee]

If the original question did not mention Trump then you have proven my point. Rasmussen added Trump to show support for him. As I said. Embarrassingly partisan organization.

[Zagadka]

"A proposal is being considered in California which would require large companies to give over half the savings they get from the new national tax reform bill to the state" <--- Can you please give me an unbiased or known biased from both sides report on that? I've never heard of it.

[Doug64]

"A proposal is being considered in California which would require large companies to give over half the savings they get from the new national tax reform bill to the state" <--- Can you please give me an unbiased or known biased from both sides report on that? I've never heard of it.

California Democrats want some businesses to fork over half tax-cut savings to state

[Drlee]

This nonsensical bill is going nowhere. If California wants to help the poor it could lower its sales tax rate in favor of corporate taxes. It won't.