The Results Are In!
Apr 19, 2007
Dear Friend,
The results are in and last week’s survey was a resounding success!”This is the most effective survey I've ever received,” commented Frances from Waltham, MA. Others, such as Cindy from Sandy Lake, PA were less enthusiastic, noting, “The survey was interesting, but there were many points left untouched.”
Regardless of how you responded, thank you to those that completed the survey!
Concern over wars in the Middle East topped the list of most important issues in 2007, with an overwhelming 68% of respondents indicating that ending the war in Iraq is the most important issue and a 47% plurality indicating that preventing a war with Iran is the second most important issue.
Some members were upset that other issues were not included as options in the survey and suggested that global warming, immigration, impeaching President Bush, universal health care, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (to name a few) also be included.
As Leslie from Somerset, MA notes, “As opposed as am I to the war in Iraq, nothing will matter if we don't do something useful to stop catastrophic global warming. Yes, I agree that we need to reduce nuclear weapons, but the Greenhouse Effect may beat us to the punchline of nuclear destruction!”
Results were more divided over how to end the Iraq war. A 56% majority support the recently passed legislation that sets a timetable for withdrawal but does not cut off funding for the war. In a separate question, 43% of our members support withdrawing U.S troops from Iraq by the end of 2007, 32% support immediately cutting off funding for the war, and 24% support withdrawing no later than a year from now.
More solidarity came on which policy tool the U.S. should use on Iran, with a significant 60% favoring diplomacy. A smaller number (19%) support the use of both diplomacy and sanctions and 20% favor diplomacy, sanctions, and supporting internal regime change in Iran.
When asked about what the U.S. should do with its nuclear arsenal, a slight majority (52%) said that the U.S. should reduce its stockpile to very low levels without building new nuclear weapons. Nearly a quarter (23%) went further still and said that the U.S. should eliminate its entire stockpile, while 21% said that the U.S. should maintain its current stockpile without developing new nuclear weapons.
Looking to the 2008 presidential election, results were divided for Democratic candidates, while there was no love lost for Republican candidates. When asked which of the current candidates they would consider voting for, former Senator John Edwards just barely edged out Sen. Barack Obama, 60% to 58%. Sen. Hillary Clinton and Rep. Dennis Kucinich were tied for third place with 33% and Governor Bill Richardson picked up 27% of the vote for fifth place. A number of people, however, suggested that former Vice President Al Gore should also have been included in the options.
On the Republican side, nearly half (48%) of respondents said that they would never vote for a Republican, with another 40% indicating that there was no current Republican candidate that they would support. A scant 6% said they are considering Sen. Chuck Hagel, 4% are thinking over Rep. Ron Paul, and 3% are mulling over former Mayor Rudy Guiliani.
Thanks again to those of you that completed the survey!
Sincerely,
John Isaacs and Guy Stevens
P.S. Want all of the details? Click here to view the complete results of the survey.
