[statecom-discuss] Re: The people are in motion to oppose war and empire.

[John Andrews]

As Grace noted, it is important to ask whether a poll question is about 
national priorities or state/local priorities.  The question below was 
asked of Massachusetts voters in the State House News Public Opinion 
Poll, November 2006.  (Note: Everyone got to vote for *two* issues.)  
Only 3 per cent voted for "war/security against terrorism" as a top 
priority for the governor.   It looks like people don't expect the 
governor to be able to do much about the war, so other things ranked 
higher.  If the question had been asked about a U.S. Senate race, I'd 
expect the war to come out much higher.

- John

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Q17ab.  No matter who wins the election for governor or whether you vote 
in the election,
what do you think should be the new governor's FIRST AND SECOND   priority?


Education     38.2
Taxes     29.8
The economy     14.4
Healthcare/health insurance/health plan     12.6
Dealing with Big Dig/Central Artery construction/tolls     12.3
Crime     11.2
Unemployment/jobs/
joblessness     10.8
Immigration     7.4
The state government fiscal situation/budget deficit     6.5
War/security against terrorism     3.0
Welfare reform     3.0
Affordable housing     2.8
Appointing capable people     2.6
The elderly     2.3
Focus on Massachusetts / Unify the state / Do the job     2.1
Gay marriage/civil unions     1.9
Environment     1.3
Homelessness     1.0
Abortion     1.0
Local aid to cities and towns      0.8
Drugs     0.8
Meeting the people around the state     0.8
Gaining trust of the people      0.5
Other     11.0
Don't know     13.4
Refused     0.5