
In your opinion which of the following will be the biggest threat to the country in the future -- big business, big labor, or big government?
|
Big |
Big |
Big |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 Mar 27-29 |
32 |
10 |
55 |
3 |
|
2008 Dec 4-7 |
31 |
11 |
53 |
6 |
|
2006 Dec 11-14 |
25 |
9 |
61 |
5 |
|
2005 Dec 5-7 |
27 |
8 |
61 |
4 |
|
2004 Dec 5-8 |
27 |
11 |
57 |
5 |
|
2003 Nov 10-12 |
29 |
9 |
57 |
5 |
|
2002 Jul 5-8 |
38 |
10 |
47 |
5 |
|
2000 Oct 25-28 |
22 |
7 |
65 |
6 |
|
1999 Aug 24-26 |
24 |
8 |
65 |
3 |
|
1998 Dec 4-6 |
24 |
7 |
64 |
5 |
|
1995 Aug 11-14 |
24 |
9 |
64 |
3 |
|
1985 Jun 7-10 |
22 |
19 |
50 |
9 |
|
1983 May 13-16 |
19 |
18 |
51 |
12 |
|
1981 Sep 18-21 |
22 |
22 |
46 |
10 |
|
1979 May 4-7 |
28 |
17 |
43 |
12 |
|
1978 Sep 15-18 |
19 |
19 |
47 |
15 |
|
1977 Jan 7-10 |
23 |
26 |
38 |
13 |
|
1969 Nov 12-17 |
19 |
28 |
33 |
20 |
|
1968 Jul 18-23 |
12 |
26 |
46 |
16 |
|
1966 Dec 8-13 |
14 |
21 |
48 |
17 |
|
1965 Feb |
17 |
29 |
35 |
19 |
In general, do you think there is too much, too little or about the right amount of government regulation of business and industry?
|
Too |
Right |
Too |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Gallup Poll |
||||
| 2008 Sep 8-11 |
38 |
27 |
31 |
3 |
| 2007 Sep 14-16 |
38 |
26 |
33 |
4 |
| 2006 Sep 7-10 |
36 |
28 |
30 |
6 |
| 2005 Sep 12-15 |
34 |
23 |
40 |
3 |
|
2004 Sep 13-15 |
37 |
24 |
34 |
5 |
|
2003 Sep 8-10 |
37 |
35 |
25 |
3 |
|
2002 Sep 5-8 |
35 |
31 |
31 |
3 |
|
2002 Jun 28-30 |
32 |
30 |
33 |
5 |
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
28 |
39 |
30 |
3 |
|
2001 Sep 7-10 |
41 |
38 |
17 |
4 |
|
1993 Mar 22-24 |
37 |
30 |
28 |
5 |
|
Los Angeles Times |
||||
|
1991 Apr |
27 |
36 |
29 |
8 |
|
1981 Mar |
54 |
14 |
18 |
14 |
Would you like to see major corporations have more influence in this nation, less influence, or keep their influence as it is now?
|
|
|
Keep |
Other |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2008 Jan 4-6 |
7 |
68 |
24 |
-- |
2 |
|
2007 Jan 15-18 |
10 |
61 |
27 |
* |
2 |
|
2006 Jan 9-12 |
7 |
65 |
26 |
* |
2 |
|
2005 Jan 3-5 |
8 |
60 |
30 |
* |
2 |
|
2004 Jan 12-15 |
9 |
60 |
30 |
* |
1 |
|
2003 Jan 13-16 |
8 |
60 |
30 |
* |
2 |
|
2002 Jan 7-9 |
8 |
53 |
37 |
0 |
2 |
|
2001 Jan 10-14 |
10 |
52 |
36 |
* |
2 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|||||
Do you think big business does -- or does not -- have too much influence over the decisions made by the Bush administration?
|
Yes, does |
No, does not |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2006 Feb 28-Mar 1 |
73 |
23 |
4 |
|
2005 Aug 28-30 |
70 |
25 |
5 |
|
2004 Oct 9-10 ^ |
61 |
35 |
4 |
|
2002 Jul 26-28 ^ |
69 |
24 |
7 |
|
2002 Jun 28-30 ^ |
63 |
32 |
5 |
|
2002 Jan 11-14 |
63 |
31 |
6 |
|
2001 Jul 10-11 |
67 |
26 |
7 |
|
2001 Apr 20-22 |
63 |
30 |
7 |
|
^ Asked of a half sample |
|||
Thinking for a moment about the corporate scandals that happened earlier this year at companies like Enron and WorldCom, how effective do you think the measures taken by Congress and federal regulators have been to fix these problems -- very effective, somewhat effective, not too effective, or not effective at all?
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not |
No |
|
|
2002 Sep 20-22 |
6% |
40 |
34 |
16 |
4 |
How much confidence do you have that the information you get about a company's finances from its official records will be accurate -- a great deal, a moderate amount, not much, or none at all?
|
Great |
Moderate |
Not |
None |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
7% |
37 |
35 |
19 |
2 |
Just your best guess, please say how important a reason [RANDOM ORDER] is/are for the current state of the economy. Is it/Are they -- one of the most important reasons, a major reason but not the most important, a minor reason, or not a reason at all?
Greed and corruption among corporate executives
|
One of |
Major |
Minor |
Not a |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
28% |
49 |
17 |
3 |
3 |
President George W. Bush's economic policies
|
One of |
Major |
Minor |
Not a |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
10% |
36 |
36 |
12 |
6 |
Former President Bill Clinton's economic policies
|
One of |
Major |
Minor |
Not a |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
11% |
27 |
36 |
19 |
7 |
The September 11th terrorist attacks
|
One of |
Major |
Minor |
Not a |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
24% |
48 |
20 |
5 |
3 |
The performance of the stock market
|
One of |
Major |
Minor |
Not a |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
13% |
53 |
26 |
5 |
3 |
The normal business cycle
|
One of |
Major |
Minor |
Not a |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
14% |
40 |
32 |
7 |
7 |
The collapse of many Internet and computer companies in the last few years
|
One of |
Major |
Minor |
Not a |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
10% |
42 |
36 |
7 |
5 |
Would you say top executives of a larger corporation taking improper actions to help themselves at the expense of the corporation -- is very widespread, is somewhat widespread, only happens occasionally, or never happens in the business world?
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Happens |
Never |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
43% |
39 |
14 |
1 |
3 |
Do you think the problem of corporate corruption has gotten worse in the past few years, or has it always been like this?
|
Gotten worse |
Always like this |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
47% |
50 |
3 |
Do you think that new legislation and increased regulation of business can have a major effect on correcting the problem of corporate corruption, or not?
|
Yes, can |
No, cannot |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Jul 29-31 |
66% |
30 |
4 |
Do you think George W. Bush is -- or is not -- doing enough to deal with the problem of corporate corruption?
|
|
|
Doing too |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
42% |
51 |
1 |
6 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
Do you think corruption among top corporate executives is worse now than it was before President Bush took office, or not?
|
Yes, worse |
No, not worse |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
31% |
63 |
6 |
Do you think George W. Bush is more interested in -- [ROTATED: protecting the interests of ordinary Americans (or is he more interested in) protecting the interests of large corporations]?
[BASED ON 508 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B]
|
Ordinary |
Large |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
41% |
48 |
11 |
|
2002 Jul 5-8 ^ |
47% |
46 |
7 |
|
2002 Jun 28-30 |
53% |
41 |
6 |
|
^ Asked of a full sample |
|||
Do you approve or disapprove of the way [ROTATED] are handling the issue of corporate corruption?
The Republicans in Congress
|
Approve |
Disapprove |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
41% |
44 |
15 |
The Democrats in Congress
|
Approve |
Disapprove |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
42% |
40 |
18 |
Do you think -- [ITEMS ROTATED] -- are more interested in -- [ROTATED: protecting the interests of ordinary Americans (or are they more interested in) protecting the interests of large corporations]?
[BASED ON 496 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A]
The Democrats in Congress
|
Ordinary |
Large |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
50% |
36 |
14 |
|
2002 Jun 28-30 |
55% |
36 |
9 |
The Republicans in Congress
|
Ordinary |
Large |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
25% |
65 |
10 |
|
2002 Jun 28-30 |
30% |
62 |
8 |
From what you have heard or read about George W. Bush's activities at Harken Energy Corporation, which of the following statements best describes your view of his actions in this matter -- [ROTATED: he did something illegal, he did something unethical but nothing illegal, or he did not do anything seriously wrong]?
[BASED ON 496 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A]
|
Something |
Something |
Did not do |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
7% |
32 |
33 |
28 |
|
2002 Jul 9-11 |
10% |
29 |
31 |
30 |
From what you have heard or read about Dick Cheney's activities at the Halliburton Company, which of the following statements best describes your view of his actions in this matter -- [ROTATED: he did something illegal, he did something unethical but nothing illegal, or he did not do anything seriously wrong]?
[BASED ON 508 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B]
|
Something |
Something |
Did not do |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
13% |
31 |
23 |
33 |
When a large corporation is audited by one of the country's major accounting firms, how confident are you that the reports by the accounting firm provide an accurate assessment of the corporation's financial situation? Are you -- very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all?
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
3% |
32 |
41 |
22 |
2 |
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
7% |
49 |
31 |
11 |
2 |
Do you think the ways that large corporations are audited need -- [ROTATED: a complete overhaul, major reforms, minor reforms, (or) no reforms]?
|
Complete |
Major |
Minor |
No |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
28% |
43 |
22 |
3 |
4 |
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
17% |
39 |
35 |
4 |
5 |
How closely have you followed the news about George W. Bush's proposals to deal with corporate accounting scandals -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?
[BASED ON 508 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A]
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 9-11 |
19% |
39 |
24 |
17 |
1 |
Overall, do you think Bush's proposals will -- or will not -- be effective in helping to prevent corporate accounting scandals in the future?
[BASED ON 508 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A]
|
Yes, will be |
No, will not be |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Jul 9-11 |
43% |
39 |
18 |
How closely have you followed the news about George W. Bush's involvement in alleged accounting irregularities and insider stock trading while he was a director at Harken Energy Corporation in Texas in the early 1990s -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?
[BASED ON 496 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B]
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not |
No |
|
|
2002 Jul 9-11 |
12%^ |
26 |
26 |
35 |
1 |
|
2002 Jun |
|
|
% |
|
|
The economy |
26 |
|
Terrorism |
22 |
|
Education |
19 |
|
Social Security |
11 |
|
Prescription drugs for older Americans |
10 |
|
Making sure large corporations act responsibly |
7 |
|
The stock market |
1 |
|
Other/None of these (vol.) |
2 |
|
No opinion |
2 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|
Which comes closer to your view about the laws that regulate corporations in the United States -- [ROTATED: the current laws are not sufficient and new laws are needed, (or) the current laws are sufficient but need to be enforced more strictly]?
|
Not sufficient, |
Sufficient, |
No |
|
|
2002 Jun 28-30 |
27% |
69 |
4 |
As you may know, several large corporations such as Enron and WorldCom have admitted to misconduct regarding their companies' finances. Which of these statements do you think best describes this situation for the country as a whole -- [ROTATED: it is a crisis, it is a major problem for the country but is not a crisis, it is a minor problem for the country, (or)it is not a problem for the country at all]?
|
|
Major |
Minor |
Not a |
No |
|
|
2002 Jun 28-30 |
20% |
57 |
17 |
3 |
3 |
Just your best guess, how many more cases of misconduct by large corporations do you think there will be in the next year -- [ROTATED: many more cases, a few more cases, or no more cases]?
|
Many more |
A few more |
No more |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Jun 28-30 |
34% |
61 |
3 |
2 |
How confident are you that George W. Bush will take effective action to make sure large corporations act responsibly? Are you -- very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident?
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not at all |
No |
|
|
2002 Jun 28-30 |
25% |
40 |
22 |
11 |
2 |
To what extent do you think that the decrease in the government regulation of corporations is to blame for the recent scandals involving corporations -- a great deal, a moderate amount, not much, or not at all?
|
Great |
Moderate |
Not |
Not |
No |
|
|
2002 Jun 28-30 |
26% |
44 |
18 |
8 |
4 |
Do you blame the --[ROTATED: the Republicans (or the) Democrats] -- more for the decrease in the government regulation of corporations?
[BASED ON 706 ADULTS WHO BLAME THE DECREASE IN GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF CORPORATIONS FOR THE RECENT SCANDALS]
|
Republicans |
Democrats |
Both/ |
No |
|
|
2002 Jun 28-30 |
43% |
28 |
22 |
7 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
Do the recent scandals involving large corporations make you less likely to invest in the stock market, or not?
|
Yes, less likely |
No, not less likely |
No opinion | |
|
2002 Jun 28-30 |
58% |
39 |
3 |
Next, we'd like to get your overall opinion of some companies in the news. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of this company -- or if you have never heard of it. First, ... How about ... [ITEM A, THEN ITEMS B-C ROTATED]?
Enron, the energy corporation
|
Favorable |
Unfavorable |
No opinion/ |
|
|
2002 Apr 22-24 |
8% |
74 |
18 |
Arthur Andersen, the accounting firm
|
Favorable |
Unfavorable |
No opinion/ |
|
|
2002 Apr 22-24 |
11% |
49 |
40 |
As you may know, Congress' investigative arm, the General Accounting Office, says it will file a lawsuit to force the White House to release information about the consultations with business leaders by Vice President Cheney's energy task force. Do you think Vice President Cheney should -- or should not -- turn over information to Congress about the task force meetings?
|
Should |
Should not |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
69% |
26 |
5 |
Which of the following comes closer to your view about the Enron situation -- [ROTATED: it shows that the U.S. needs new laws to regulate the management of large corporations, (or) it shows that the U.S. needs to enforce existing laws better, but does not need new laws]?
|
New laws |
Enforce existing |
No |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
36% |
58 |
6 |
How closely have you been following the news concerning the Enron energy corporation -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not |
No |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
23% |
47 |
22 |
8 |
* |
|
2002 Jan 11-14 |
18% |
37 |
26 |
18 |
1 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
How important an issue do you think the Enron situation is to the nation -- very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all?
|
Very |
Somewhat |
Not too |
Not |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Enron situation |
|||||
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
52 |
37 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
|
Clinton pardons ^ |
|||||
|
2001 Mar 9-11 |
33 |
30 |
17 |
17 |
3 |
|
Whitewater † |
|||||
|
1995 Jul 7-9 |
20 |
25 |
24 |
25 |
6 |
|
1994 Aug 8-9 |
17 |
26 |
27 |
25 |
5 |
|
1994 Jul 15-17 |
16 |
34 |
26 |
22 |
2 |
|
1994 Mar 7-8 |
24 |
33 |
26 |
12 |
5 |
|
^ WORDING: How important an issue do you think these pardons are to the nation -- very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all? |
|||||
|
† WORDING: How important an issue do you think Whitewater is to the nation -- very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all? |
|||||
Which of the following statements best describes your view of the actions of executives of the Enron energy corporation -- [ROTATED: they did something illegal, they did something unethical but nothing illegal, or they did not do anything seriously wrong]?
|
Something |
Something |
Did not do |
No |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
65% |
26 |
2 |
7 |
|
2002 Jan 25-27 |
65% |
17 |
2 |
16 |
|
2002 Jan 11-14 |
42% |
29 |
6 |
23 |
Which of the following statements best describes your view of members of the Bush administration's involvement with the Enron corporation -- [ROTATED: they did something illegal, they did something unethical but nothing illegal, or they did not do anything seriously wrong]?
|
Something |
Something |
Did not do |
No |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
15% |
43 |
28 |
14 |
|
2002 Jan 25-27 ^ |
15% |
32 |
28 |
25 |
|
2002 Jan 11-14 |
10% |
36 |
28 |
26 |
|
^ Asked of half sample |
||||
Which of the following statements best describes your view of the Republicans in Congress involvement with the Enron corporation -- [ROTATED: they did something illegal, they did something unethical but nothing illegal, or they did not do anything seriously wrong]?
|
Something |
Something |
Did not do |
No |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
13% |
41 |
30 |
16 |
Which of the following statements best describes your view of the Democrats in Congress involvement with the Enron corporation -- [ROTATED: they did something illegal, they did something unethical but nothing illegal, or they did not do anything seriously wrong]?
|
Something |
Something |
Did not do |
No |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
11% |
39 |
34 |
16 |
|
2002 Jan 25-27 ^ |
16% |
35 |
18 |
31 |
|
^ Asked of half sample |
||||
Which of the following do you think is the most important issue in the Enron situation -- [ROTATED: the fact that Enron contributed millions of dollars to politicians and may have expected favorable treatment in return, the fact that the actions of Enron executives led a large corporation to suddenly collapse and go bankrupt (or) the fact that many Enron employees lost their jobs and their retirement savings while Enron executives made millions]?
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
|
|
% |
|
|
The fact that Enron contributed millions of dollars to politicians and may have expected favorable treatment in return |
9 |
|
The fact that the actions of Enron executives led a large corporation to suddenly collapse and go bankrupt |
13 |
|
The fact that many Enron employees lost their jobs and their retirement savings while Enron executives made millions |
63 |
|
All/Some (vol.) |
10 |
|
None (vol.) |
1 |
|
No opinion |
4 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|
Do you think Congress should -- or should not -- investigate the contacts that members of the Bush administration had with Enron executives?
|
Should |
Should not |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
82% |
14 |
4 |
If you had to choose, would you say the problems associated with Enron involve -- [ROTATED: mostly the Republican Party (or do they involve) the Republican and Democratic Parties about equally]?
|
Mostly the |
Both parties |
Mostly the |
Neither |
No |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
20% |
65 |
1 |
2 |
12 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|||||
Which of the following comes closer to your view -- [ROTATED: the Bush administration is trying to cover up its contacts with Enron, (or) the Bush administration is cooperating as much as possible in letting the public know about its contacts with Enron]?
|
Trying to cover |
Cooperating as |
No |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
43% |
47 |
10 |
Do you think the practices of Enron executives are -- [ROTATED: worse than what other business executives have done in the past (or are they) no worse than what other business executives have done in the past]?
[BASED ON 514 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±5 PCT. PTS.]
|
Worse |
No worse |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
42% |
52 |
6 |
Thinking about the practices of the top executives at Enron, do you think similar practices also occur -- [ROTATED: at most other large corporations, at some, at only a few, or at no other large corporations]?
[BASED ON 487 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B; ±5 PCT. PTS.]
|
Most |
Some |
Only |
None |
All (vol.) |
No |
|
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
25% |
50 |
19 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||||
As you may know, Enron executives have made major donations to George W. Bush's presidential election campaign. Do you think Enron executives felt they would -- or would not -- get special treatment on policy issues in return for making these contributions?
[BASED ON 493 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±4 PCT. PTS.]
|
Would |
Would not |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Jan 25-27 |
77% |
15 |
8 |
Do you think Bush felt he would -- or would not -- owe Enron executives any special treatment on policy issues by accepting these contributions?
[BASED ON 493 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; ±5 PCT. PTS.]
|
Would |
Would not |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Jan 25-27 |
29% |
59 |
12 |
As you may know, Enron executives have made major donations to election campaigns for some Democrats in Congress. Do you think Enron executives felt they would -- or would not -- get special treatment on policy issues in return for making these contributions?
[BASED ON 518 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B; ±4 PCT. PTS.]
|
Would |
Would not |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Jan 25-27 |
83% |
8 |
9 |
Do you think these Democrats in Congress felt they would -- or would not -- owe Enron executives any special treatment on policy issues by accepting these contributions?
[BASED ON 518 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B; ±5 PCT. PTS.]
|
Would |
Would not |
No opinion |
|
|
2002 Jan 25-27 |
55% |
33 |
12 |
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