Topics At A Glance: Defense Spending

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There is much discussion as to the amount of money the government in Washington should spend for national defense and military purposes. How do you feel about this? Do you think we are spending too little, about the right amount, or too much?

Gallup Poll, [Feb, 2012]

(Now, just so everyone has the same information, I'm going to read you a brief description...The federal debt ceiling acts as a check and limit on the country's overall liabilities, including the federal deficit and other debts. When the US (United States) Treasury needs to issue debt above the ceiling in order to avoid going into bankruptcy and defaulting on its obligations, Congress needs to vote to raise the ceiling. Congress is again currently considering whether and how much to extend the debt ceiling.)...And, thinking some more about the debt ceiling...I'm going to read you two statements about the debt ceiling and please tell me which comes closer to your point of view. Some people say do not raise the debt ceiling because doing so will make it easier to increase spending and harder to reduce the deficit, and will increase the debt held by other countries and passed on to the next generation. Efforts to control the debt must begin now and the first step needs to be to not raise the debt ceiling. Other people say raise the debt ceiling because failing to do so could stop the government from meeting its obligations, including payments to those on Social Security and in the military, and cause additional harm to the economy. Efforts to control debt should be comprehensive and long-term rather than artificial and short-term.

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [Jul, 2011]

Do you think that we should increase our spending on national defense, keep it about the same, or cut it back?

Note: Asked in Survey A (half sample)
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press Political Typology Survey, [Feb, 2011]

Spending on Defense vs. Other Domestic Problems

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Let me read you a list of doubts about Mitt Romney. Regardless of how you voted (in the 2012 presidential election), which three describe the most important reasons not to vote for Mitt Romney?...Changed positions so often we don't know what he believes, being against Planned Parenthood and preventive health services for women, with the rich and out of touch with average people, his statement that he doesn't care about the '47 percent', plan to change Medicare and raise costs for seniors, wants more tax cuts for the wealthy, closed companies and shipped jobs abroad when CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Bain Capital, would repeal Obamacare, for the Bush trickle down policies that caused the economic crash, stands for Tea Party Republicans who produce gridlock in Washington, would increase military spending and let generals decide whether to keep troops in Afghanistan

%
31		Changed positions so often we don't know what he believes
29		Being against Planned Parenthood and preventive health services for women
24		With the rich and out of touch with average people
23		His statement that he doesn't care about the '47 percent'
22		Plan to change Medicare and raise costs for seniors
22		Wants more tax cuts for the wealthy
21		Closed companies and shipped jobs abroad when CEO of Bain Capital
19		Would repeal Obamacare
16		For the Bush trickle down policies that caused the economic crash
13		Stands for Tea Party Republicans who produce gridlock in Washington
11		Would increase military spending and let generals decide whether to keep troops in Afghanistan
2		Other (Vol.)
15		All (Vol.)
4		None (Vol.)
3		Don't know/Refused

Sample: National voters
Note: Asked of those who voted for Barack Obama/Other candidate and did not consider voting for Romney
Democracy Corps/Public Campaign Action Fund Poll, [Nov, 2012]

Let me read you a list of doubts about Mitt Romney. Regardless of how you voted (in the 2012 presidential election), which three describe the most important reasons not to vote for Mitt Romney?...Changed positions so often we don't know what he believes, with the rich and out of touch with average people, his statement that he doesn't care about the '47 percent', being against Planned Parenthood and preventive health services for women, plan to change Medicare and raise costs for seniors, wants more tax cuts for the wealthy, closed companies and shipped jobs abroad when CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Bain Capital, for the Bush trickle down policies that caused the economic crash, would repeal Obamacare, stands for Tea Party Republicans who produce gridlock in Washington, would increase military spending and let generals decide whether to keep troops in Afghanistan

%
30		Changed positions so often we don't know what he believes
28		With the rich and out of touch with average people
27		His statement that he doesn't care about the '47 percent'
27		Being against Planned Parenthood and preventive health services for women
24		Plan to change Medicare and raise costs for seniors
20		Wants more tax cuts for the wealthy
19		Closed companies and shipped jobs abroad when CEO of Bain Capital
17		For the Bush trickle down policies that caused the economic crash
16		Would repeal Obamacare
15		Stands for Tea Party Republicans who produce gridlock in Washington
14		Would increase military spending and let generals decide whether to keep troops in Afghanistan
3		Other (Vol.)
14		All (Vol.)
4		None (Vol.)
2		Don't know/Refused

Sample: National voters
Note: Asked of those who voted for Barack Obama/Other candidate and did not consider voting for Mitt Romney
Democracy Corps/Women's Voices. Women Vote Poll, [Nov, 2012]

Which one of the following issue areas will be most important in deciding your vote for president (in 2012)? Economic issues such as jobs and growth, social issues such as abortion and gay marriage, national security issues such as terrorism and ensuring a strong military, fiscal issues such as taxes, the deficit and government spending

%
45		Economic issues
12		Social issues
7		National security issues
17		Fiscal issues
17		All (Vol.)
1		Other (Vol.)
1		Don't know

Sample: National registered voters including an oversample of Hispanics
Fox News Poll, [Oct, 2012]

Defense Spending and a Balanced Budget

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As you may know, last year (2011) Congress and the President (Barack Obama) agreed to a program to reduce the federal deficit that some people call the 'fiscal cliff.' Unless Congress and the President reach an agreement within the next few weeks, tax rates will automatically rise in January (2013) for almost all Americans and major spending cuts will automatically occur next year in most government spending programs, including military programs....If those automatic tax increases and spending cuts occur next year, do you think that would cause a crisis, major problems, minor problems, or no problems at all for the United States?

CNN/ORC International Poll, [Nov, 2012]

(As you may know, last year (2011) Congress and the President (Barack Obama) agreed to a program to reduce the federal deficit that some people call the 'fiscal cliff.' Unless Congress and the President reach an agreement within the next few weeks, tax rates will automatically rise in January (2013) for almost all Americans and major spending cuts will automatically occur next year in most government spending programs, including military programs.)...And if those automatic tax increases and spending cuts occur next year, do you think that would affect your personal financial situation a great deal, some, not much, or not at all?

CNN/ORC International Poll, [Nov, 2012]

(As you may know, last year (2011) Congress and the President (Barack Obama) agreed to a program to reduce the federal deficit that some people call the 'fiscal cliff.' Unless Congress and the President reach an agreement within the next few weeks, tax rates will automatically rise in January (2013) for almost all Americans and major spending cuts will automatically occur next year in most government spending programs, including military programs.)...If Congress and the President do not reach an agreement by the end of the year and those automatic tax increases and spending cuts occur, do you think that Barack Obama or the Republicans in Congress would be more responsible for that?

CNN/ORC International Poll, [Nov, 2012]

The "Monetary" Cost of the Iraq War

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Now I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the country have said are important for Congress to focus on. Please listen as I read the list and tell me which one issue you think is most important....The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, illegal immigration, taxes, terrorism and homeland security, education, health care costs, government spending and the budget deficit, the economy, gas and energy prices, Medicare and Social Security, jobs...(If Combination/Equally, ask:) But if you had to pick just one, which would you say is most important?

%
2		The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
1		Illegal immigration
2		Taxes
2		Terrorism and homeland security
9		Education
10		Health care costs
16		Government spending and the budget deficit
27		The economy
1		Gas and energy prices
6		Medicare and Social Security
18		Jobs
5		Combination/Equally (Vol.)
2		Other (Vol.)
*		None (Vol.)
*		Unsure

Sample: National likely voters
Politico/George Washington University Battleground Brushfire 2012 Survey, [Nov, 2012]

Now I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the country have said are important for Congress to focus on. Please listen as I read the list and tell me which one issue you think is most important....The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, illegal immigration, taxes, terrorism and homeland security, education, heath care costs, government spending and the budget deficit, the economy, gas and energy prices, Medicare and Social Security, jobs...(If Combination/Equally, ask:) But if you had to pick just one, which would you say is most important?

%
2		The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
2		Illegal immigration
1		Taxes
2		Terrorism and homeland security
10		Education
8		Health care costs
12		Government spending and the budget deficit
31		The economy
2		Gas and energy prices
7		Medicare and Social Security
15		Jobs
6		Combination/Equally (Vol.)
1		Other (Vol.)
*		None (Vol.)
*		Unsure

Sample: National likely voters
Politico/George Washington University Battleground Brushfire 2012 Survey, [Oct, 2012]

%
3		The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
2		Illegal immigration
2		Taxes
2		Terrorism and homeland security
9		Education
7		Health care costs
13		Government spending and the budget deficit
32		The economy
2		Gas and energy prices
8		Medicare and Social Security
14		Jobs
4		Combination/Equally (Vol.)
1		Other (Vol.)
*		None (Vol.)
*		Unsure

Sample: National likely voters
Politico/George Washington University Battleground Brushfire 2012 Survey, [Oct, 2012]

Missile Defense Systems

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Some people feel the US (United States) should try to develop a ground and space based missile defense system to protect the US from missile attack. Others oppose such an effort because they say it would be too costly and might interfere with existing arms treaties with the Russians. Which comes closer to your view?

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll, [Dec, 2010]

Here are two statements people have made about the cost of a missile defense system. Please tell me which one comes closer to your own point of view....A missile defense system is affordable. A missile defense system is not affordable.

National Missile Defense Survey, [Jul, 2007]

(If the amount chosen for defense/military spending in the 2006 budget was less than the Bush Administration proposed spending/defense, ask:) In the budget exercise you just completed you proposed lowering defense spending. Here are some things that could be reduced in order to lower defense spending. For each one, please indicate how much, if at all, you would like to have it reduced. (If the amount chosen for defense/military spending in the 2006 budget was the same or more than the Bush Administration proposed spending in defense, ask:) Now please consider whether you would like to increase or reduce spending on developing and building new capabilities such as...a national missile defense system. 0 Not reduce at all/Keep the same, -1 Reduce a little, -2 Reduce some, -3 Reduce quite a bit, -4 Reduce a lot, 1 Increase a lot, 2 Increase some, 3 Increase quite a bit, 4 Increase a lot

%
35		Not reduce at all/Keep same (0)
15		Reduce a little (-1)
14		Reduce some (-2)
5		Reduce quite a bit (-3)
7		Reduce a lot (-4)
3		Increase a lot (4)
3		Increase quite a bit (3)
7		Increase some (2)
5		Increase a little (1)
5		No answer

PIPA/Knowledge Networks Poll, [Feb, 2005]

From the Archives

I'd like to read you some statements about President Reagan's recent decision to cut his defense budget by 13 billion dollars. For each, tell me if you agree or disagree...There must be a lot of waste in the defense budget if the President can cut 13 billion dollars out and still keep our military defenses strong.

Harris Survey, [Sep, 1981]

(How important is it that Congress do each of the following? Is it a top priority, high priority, low priority, or not a priority at all?)... Increase spending on the military and defense

Gallup Poll, [Mar, 1999]

(Another controversial issue is whether the U.S. (United States) should pay its U.N. (United Nations) peacekeeping dues in full. For several years now, the U.S. has significantly underpaid its dues. Last year it paid less than half. Here are some arguments that have been made on this issue. Please tell me if you find them convincing or unconvincing.) U.N. (United Nations) peacekeeping is a bad idea. It tries to solve other people's problems in parts of the world that are of little concern to the U.S. (United States). We should pay as little as possible for U.N. peacekeeping--preferably nothing. Do you find this argument convincing or unconvincing? (Would that be somewhat or very?)

UN Peacekeeping, [Feb, 1994]

Topics At A Glance: Defense Spending

Spending Too Much/To Little on Defense

Spending on Defense vs. Other Domestic Problems

Defense Spending and a Balanced Budget

The "Monetary" Cost of the Iraq War

Missile Defense Systems

From the Archives