How would you rate the overall state of moral values in this country today -- as excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
|
|
Excellent
|
Good
|
Only
fair
|
Poor
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
2
|
13
|
41
|
44
|
1
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
1
|
16
|
39
|
44
|
1
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
1
|
13
|
43
|
42
|
2
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
2
|
17
|
40
|
39
|
2
|
|
2004 Nov 19-21
|
4
|
22
|
41
|
32
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
1
|
18
|
40
|
40
|
1
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
2
|
20
|
42
|
35
|
1
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
1
|
17
|
41
|
40
|
1
|
Right now, do you think the state of moral values in the country as a whole is getting better or getting worse?
|
|
Getting better
|
Getting worse
|
Same
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
11
|
81
|
6
|
3
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
11
|
82
|
4
|
2
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
11
|
81
|
6
|
3
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
16
|
77
|
5
|
2
|
|
2004 Nov 19-21
|
27
|
64
|
7
|
2
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
16
|
77
|
5
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
24
|
67
|
7
|
2
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
24
|
67
|
7
|
2
|
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response
|
MORAL VALUES OUTLOOK GROUPS
|
|
Positive |
Mixed
|
Negative
|
Undesignated
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
6
|
14
|
77
|
3
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
8
|
14
|
76
|
2
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
7
|
12
|
77
|
4
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
9
|
18
|
70
|
3
|
|
2004 Nov 19-21
|
16
|
24
|
57
|
3
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
9
|
19
|
70
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
13
|
22
|
62
|
3
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
12
|
20
|
65
|
3
|
Next, I'm going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about … [RANDOM ORDER]?
Abortion
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
40
|
48
|
10
|
*
|
2
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
40
|
51
|
7
|
*
|
1
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
43
|
44
|
11
|
*
|
2
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
40
|
51
|
8
|
--
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
40
|
50
|
8
|
*
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
37
|
53
|
9
|
*
|
1
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
38
|
53
|
8
|
*
|
1
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
42
|
45
|
11
|
1
|
1
|
|
* Less than 0.5%
|
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response
|
The death penalty
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
62
|
30
|
5
|
*
|
3
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
66
|
27
|
5
|
*
|
2
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
71
|
22
|
5
|
*
|
2
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
70
|
25
|
4
|
*
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
65
|
28
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
64
|
31
|
4
|
--
|
1
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
65
|
28
|
5
|
*
|
2
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
63
|
27
|
7
|
1
|
2
|
Doctor-assisted suicide
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
51
|
44
|
3
|
*
|
1
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
49
|
44
|
5
|
--
|
2
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
50
|
41
|
6
|
*
|
2
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
49
|
46
|
4
|
*
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
53
|
41
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
45
|
49
|
5
|
--
|
1
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
50
|
44
|
4
|
*
|
2
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
49
|
40
|
8
|
*
|
3
|
Medical testing on animals
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
56
|
38
|
3
|
*
|
3
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
59
|
37
|
3
|
*
|
1
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
61
|
32
|
5
|
*
|
2
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
66
|
30
|
2
|
*
|
2
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
62
|
32
|
4
|
*
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
63
|
33
|
3
|
*
|
1
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
63
|
30
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
65
|
26
|
5
|
1
|
3
|
Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
54
|
39
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
58
|
38
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
62
|
32
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
64
|
32
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
63
|
31
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
60
|
36
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
59
|
35
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
60
|
32
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
|
* Less than 0.5%
|
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response
|
Sex between an unmarried man and woman
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
61
|
36
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
59
|
38
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
59
|
37
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
58
|
39
|
2
|
*
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
60
|
36
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
58
|
41
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
53
|
42
|
2
|
*
|
3
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
53
|
42
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
Married men and women having an affair
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
7
|
91
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
6
|
91
|
2
|
*
|
1
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
4
|
93
|
2
|
*
|
1
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
5
|
93
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
7
|
91
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
6
|
93
|
*
|
*
|
1
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
9
|
87
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
7
|
89
|
3
|
*
|
1
|
Divorce
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
70
|
22
|
6
|
*
|
1
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
65
|
26
|
8
|
*
|
1
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
67
|
24
|
8
|
1
|
1
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
66
|
27
|
6
|
*
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
66
|
26
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
66
|
27
|
6
|
*
|
1
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
63
|
28
|
8
|
*
|
1
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
59
|
28
|
12
|
*
|
1
|
|
* Less than 0.5%
|
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response
|
Cloning animals
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
33
|
61
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
36
|
59
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
29
|
65
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
35
|
61
|
1
|
*
|
3
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
32
|
64
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
29
|
68
|
1
|
*
|
2
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
29
|
66
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
31
|
63
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
Cloning humans
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
11
|
85
|
1
|
*
|
2
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
11
|
86
|
1
|
*
|
2
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
8
|
88
|
1
|
*
|
3
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
9
|
87
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
9
|
88
|
1
|
*
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
8
|
90
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
7
|
90
|
2
|
*
|
1
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
7
|
88
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
Suicide
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
15
|
78
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
16
|
78
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
15
|
78
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
13
|
82
|
3
|
*
|
2
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
15
|
79
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
14
|
81
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
12
|
83
|
3
|
*
|
2
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
13
|
78
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
|
* Less than 0.5%
|
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response
|
Medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
62
|
30
|
3
|
*
|
5
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
64
|
30
|
2
|
*
|
4
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
61
|
30
|
3
|
*
|
6
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
60
|
33
|
3
|
--
|
4
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
54
|
37
|
3
|
*
|
6
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
54
|
38
|
3
|
--
|
5
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
52
|
39
|
2
|
1
|
6
|
Having a baby outside of marriage
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
55
|
41
|
2
|
*
|
1
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
54
|
42
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
51
|
43
|
4
|
*
|
1
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
54
|
43
|
2
|
*
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
49
|
45
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
51
|
46
|
2
|
*
|
1
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
45
|
50
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
Gambling
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
63
|
32
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
63
|
32
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
60
|
34
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
64
|
32
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
66
|
30
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
63
|
34
|
2
|
*
|
1
|
Polygamy, when one husband has more than one wife at the same time
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
8
|
90
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
8
|
90
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
5
|
93
|
1
|
*
|
2
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
6
|
92
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
7
|
91
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
7
|
92
|
1
|
--
|
*
|
Homosexual relations
|
Morally
acceptable
|
Morally
wrong
|
Depends on
situation (vol.)
|
Not a
moral
issue
(vol.)
|
No
opinion
|
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2008 May 8-11
|
48
|
48
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
2007 May 10-13
|
47
|
49
|
2
|
*
|
2
|
|
2006 May 8-11
|
44
|
51
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
44
|
52
|
2
|
*
|
2
|
|
2004 May 2-4 ^
|
42
|
54
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7 ^
|
44
|
52
|
2
|
*
|
2
|
|
2002 May 6-9 ^
|
38
|
55
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
|
2001 May 10-14 ^
|
40
|
53
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
|
|
|
* Less than 0.5%
|
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response
|
|
^ WORDING: Homosexual behavior
|
Generally speaking, would you say you approve or disapprove of men and women living together without being married if they want to, or is that something you haven't formed an opinion on?
|
|
Approve
|
Disapprove
|
No opinion
|
|
2007 Sep 7-8
|
55%
|
27
|
18
|
