Hello, everyone! I created a survey about the 2016 election, but I always wanted to delve deeper by asking my readers even more questions. Basically, I want to gauge the public’s general feelings about the election overall and see how they feel about U.S. domestic and foreign policy. In the process, I decided to make a big ol’ list post.
Now, no one has to answers these questions directly, but I would like anyone reading this to look these over ask themselves these questions, and see what they Know and how they feel about various topics.
But if anyone does decide to answer any of these questions, the answers I receive (at least for the first survey) will help to inform some of my posts. I will share a few general details, then compare and contrast some of my findings.
First Survey– 2016 Election Questionnaire
I decided to use Survey Monkey for this survey, but since I am using the free version, I could only put up 10 questions. I stuck with the basics and I have received a few responses so far.
Used Questions
1. Are you an American citizen? (Y/N)
2. If you answered NO to the above question, please state your country of origin.
3. Gender:
- Male
- Female
- Other/Do Not Want to Specify
4. Age Range:
- 17 years and under
- 18-34 years
- 35-51 years
- 52-68 years
- 69 years and up
5. Are you affiliated with a political party in your country? (Y/N)
6. If you answered YES to the above question, please state the political party here.
7. Who did you like most in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election?
- Hillary Clinton (Democrat)
- Donald Trump (Republican)
- Jill Stein (Green Party)
- Gary Johnson (Libertarian)
- Other (Please State)
8. What initially drew you to your chosen candidate? (Explain)
9. What are your preferred candidate’s greatest strengths/weaknesses?
10. Do you think your preferred candidate should run again?
Unused Questions
11. Do you view any criticism aimed at your candidate to be a personal affront? (Y/N)
12. If you answered YES to Question 12, why do you feel that way?
13. Do you feel resentment toward one or more candidates and/or their supporters? (Y/N)
14. If you answered YES to Question 13, please explain why.
15. How do you feel about the 2016 election overall? (Please choose the answer you most agree with.)
- It was fun.
- It was alright.
- It was boring.
- It was ugly.
16. What do you think contributed most to the outcome of the 2016 election and why?
17. In your opinion, what was the most important issue in this past election?
- Bank Reform
- The Economy (Including Free Trade and the National Debt)
- Education
- Employment
- The Environment
- Foreign Affairs
- Health Care
- Infrastructure
- Law Enforcement
- The Minimum Wage
- National Security
- Net Neutrality
- Personal Finances/Debt
- Social Justice
- Other (Please Specify)
18. Which issue do you think your preferred candidate address the most?
19. For American Citizens 18 and over: Did you vote in the past election? (Y/N)
20. For American Citizens 18 and over: Could you vote in the past election? (Y/N)
Second Survey: Domestic Policy
For this section, I will use this post as a template to ask questions. Since I focused on ten areas, I have created questions which will focus on:
- The Environment
- Human Rights
- Personal Health (Health Care & Nutrition)
- Education
- Infrastructure
- Jobs & Welfare
- Free Speech & Freedom of the Press.
- Fair Democracies
- National Security
- Free Trade
I put welfare alongside jobs because the two are connected.
In addition, the topic of foreign affairs was on the list, but it should be its own section. I have thus added free trade & finances because each is a major sticking point with American voters. Also, some of the domestic policies overlap with foreign policy, but laws can be made for each nation to comply with worldwide goals and regulatory targets.
Section 1: The Environment
21. How do you rate the importance of climate change as a worldwide issue?
- Very Important
- Somewhat Important
- Somewhat Unimportant
- Not Important At All
- I Don’t Know
22. Do you believe climate change is a man-made problem? (Yes/No)
23. How do you rate the importance of dealing with the world’s water supplies? (This includes water infrastructure, like the pipes and water treatment in cities like Flint, Michigan.)
- This is a very urgent issue.
- This is a somewhat important issue.
- I’m neutral on this issue.
- This is a not an important issue at all.
24. Do you feel like what’s going on in Flint, Michigan is an example of environmental discrimination?
25. Do you believe someone has more of a right to clean water based on their ability to pay for it? (Y/N)
26. What is your opinion of the Environmental Protection Agency? (Choose the answer you agree with most.)
- The EPA is underfunded and understaffed.
- The staff and funding levels are just about right.
- The EPA budget and staff should be cut.
- The EPA should be eliminated.
27. In January 2017, the United States House of Representatives made it easier for public lands to be sold off or given away. Do you think this will have a detrimental effect on those lands and why?
28. Do you agree with Donald Trump’s decision to move the United States away from the Paris Climate Accord? (Y/N)
29. How often do you recycle?
- Once a week
- Once every few weeks
- Once a month
- Once few months
- Once a year
- Once every few years
- Never
30. Should other countries developing the recycling model of Japan? (Y/N)
Section 2: Human Rights
31. Does everyone have the right to eat? (Y/N)
32. What do you think about corporal punishment?
- I think it is child abuse.
- Some spankings are warranted, given the transgression.
- Parents should be allowed to punish their children as they see fit.
- I’m not sure.
33. Does the child welfare system need to be reformed? Explain.
34. Does every person have a right to a fair trial?
35. Do you think there should be a death penalty?
- Yes, for murders (beyond a shadow of a doubt).
- Yes, for the most heinous crimes, including murders (beyond a shadow of a doubt).
- Yes, based on a country’s laws.
- Never
- I’m not sure.
36. Do you believe in the concept of “humanitarian” wars? (Y/N)
37. What should be done when someone is accused of rape?
A. We should believe all accusers.
B. All cases should be treated seriously, fairly and thoroughly investigated (rape kits, witness statements, independent investigations).
C. There should be redress for those who are falsely accused.
D. Both B and C.
38. What should be done with child molesters, in terms of punishment?
- They should be imprisoned for at least 10 years if found guilty, with no exceptions.
- They should be imprisoned for life.
- They should be executed.
- They should be given prison time plus medications to suppress their urges (if and when such medication becomes available.
- I’m not sure.
- Other
39. Should gay marriage be legal? (Y/N)
40. Should transgender individuals be allowed to use public restrooms based on their gender identity? (Y/N)
Section 3: Personal Health (Health Care & Nutrition)
41. Do you believe health care is a right? (Y/N)
42. What should the United States do in the way of a national health care plan?
- Keep the Affordable Care Act intact.
- Repeal the Affordable Care Act without a placement.
- Pass the American Health Care Act.
- Move toward single payer (e.g., Medicare for all).
43. Should the United States look to import drugs from other countries (like Canada) in order to bring down prices for consumers? (Y/N)
44. Which health care system would you like the United States to emulate?
- We’re just fine as we are.
- I want us to forge our own path while improving the system we have.
- Canada’s
- Great Britain’s
- France’s
- Taiwan’s
- Other (Please modify.)
45. Should birth control, dental care, mental health, and vision be part of any basic health care plan?
- Yes to all
- Yes to birth control
- Yes to dental
- Yes to mental health
- Yes to vision
- Yes to 2 of those options
- Yes to 3 of those options
- No to all
46. How should we deal with the issue of food deserts (cities where there are few options to purchase healthy foods)? Choose as many items as you wish.
- Create farmers’ markets.
- Make more supermarkets within walking distance.
- Subsidize food delivery programs for poorer families, based on need.
- Create community gardens.
- Other (please specify)
47. Should there be school programs to make free meals (breakfast and lunch) available to poor students, based on need? (Y/N)
48. Should the United States create nutrition charts to accommodate omnivores (people who eat meat, produce, grains, and dairy products), vegetarians, vegans, and people with allergies? (Y/N)
49. Should physical education classes be mandatory for all grades, from K-12? Explain.
50. Do you believe Planned Parenthood should be closed down? (Y/N)
Bonus: Should nutrition classes be mandatory in elementary and high school?
- Yes, for at least one year in elementary school.
- Yes, occasionally during elementary school.
- Yes, for at least one year in high school.
- Yes, occasionally during physical education classes in high school.
- Yes, as a one-year course in high school.
- Yes, as a one-semester course in high school.
- No.
Section 4: Education
51. Should a basic public education be made available to all Americans, regardless of their ability to pay?
52. Should there universal teaching standards for all K-12 schools?
53. Do you believe students spend too much time on testing?
54. Should schools be shut down and denied funding based on test scores?
55. Should children be suspended from school?
- Yes, if they are guilty of bullying.
- Yes, if they have seriously harmed others and themselves.
- No, because removing a student from instruction only makes them lag behind.
- I don’t know.
- Other (Explain.)
56. What is your opinion on charter schools?
- Most are failures and should be closed down.
- We should give them a chance to work.
- Charter schools are the wave of the future.
- I don’t know.
57. How should charter schools be regulated?
- If they take public funds, they should be regulated as any public school would.
- They should remain autonomous.
58. Should the U.S. have a school voucher program, which would allow parents to use taxpayer money to pay for their child’s private school education? (Y/N)
59. Should public college be free for all? (Y/N)
60. What methods should be used to reduce student debt? Choose the options you agree with.
- Freeze interest rates at a certain point.
- Lower interest rates overall.
- Allow more debtors to pay down the principle first.
- Lower the principle.
- Allow debts to be forgiven (based on ability to pay) if 25% of the loan or $25,000 is paid, whichever is lower.
- I don’t know.
- Other
Section 5: Infrastructure
61. On a scale of 1 to 10, how urgent are American infrastructure repairs?
62. Should (toll) roads be privatized? (Y/N)
63. Should environmental impacts take priority before anything, from houses to roads and oil pipelines, are even constructed? (Y/N)
64. And based on the findings, should those projects be scrapped? (Y/N)
65. In particular, do you believe there are too many houses being built in mountainous regions? (Y/N)
66. And should homes be built in places where there were old chemical plants or near businesses which are big polluters?
67. What should be done with plots of land, like closed military bases?
- We should develop those lands for housing projects, public and private.
- We should develop those lands for various business projects.
- I don’t know.
- Other
68. Should homes be built on floodplains? (Y/N)
69. Should flood insurance by subsidized by the government?
70. Should states invest more in communications infrastructure (like setting up the Internet, especially to give the public another option besides telecom oligopolies)? (Y/N)
Section 6: Jobs & Welfare
71. Does every able bodied person have a right to a job? (Y/N)
72. Do you think the U.S. should institute a jobs program by which everyone who is able to work (and willing to work past retirement age) is matched with a job? (Y/N)
73. “Welfare creates a culture of dependency.” Do you agree and disagree with this statement?
- I strongly agree.
- I agree somewhat.
- I’m neutral.
- I somewhat disagree.
- I strongly disagree.
74. Does our welfare system need to be reformed and how do we do it?
- Yes, by expanding the safety net.
- Yes, by restricting the types of items that could be purchased with food stamps.
- Yes, by restricting the types of aid Americans can receive.
- Yes, by reducing the budget for welfare programs.
- Welfare should be eliminated.
- I don’t know.
75. Should there be a guaranteed income for Americans, in order to help us move away from a welfare system? (Y/N)
76. What should be done about the minimum wage?
- States should be allowed to set their own minimum wage.
- The national minimum wage should be set at $12.50 an hour and be adjusted every 5 years.
- The national minimum wage should be set at $12.50 an hour, and adjusted for inflation.
- The national minimum wage should be set at $15.00 an hour and be adjusted every 5 years.
- The national minimum wage should be set at $15.00 an hour and be adjusted for inflation.
- The national minimum wage should at least $20.00 an hour and be adjusted for inflation.
77. Should workers be paid for overtime? (Y/N)
78. Is union representation important to guarantee worker’s rights? (Y/N)
79. Should all right-to-work laws be struck down? (Y/N)
80. What should the retirement age be?
Bonus: Is there a gender wage gap? Explain.
Section 7: Free Speech & Freedom of the Press
81. How do you rate the importance of free speech in the United States?
- It’s the most important right we have.
- It’s one of the most important rights we have.
- It’s not that important.
- It’s not important at all.
- I don’t know.
82. Should free speech be limited based on someone’s opinion?
- Yes, because I hate dissenting opinions.
- Yes, but only in cases like libel, slander, treason, and death threats.
- No, it should not be limited at all.
83. Do you believe net neutrality is important in protecting free speech? (Y/N)
84. Do you believe corporations are people and thus have a right to use money as a form of free speech? (Y/N)
85. In the past, I have talked about how advertising dollars are being taken away from certain YouTubers. Do you believe the ongoing YouTube advertiser crisis is an attack on free speech?
- Yes.
- No.
- I don’t know.
86. Should workers be fired based on their political preferences? (Y/N)
87. What is your political alignment?
- I am a conservative.
- I am a liberal.
- I am a real leftist.
- I am a moderate.
- I prefer not to attach myself to political labels.
- I don’t know.
88. Do you trust mainstream media outlets, like CNN, local news affiliates, The New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal?
- Yes
- No
- Some (please specify)
89. In your opinion, what are the major successes and failures of mainstream media outlets?
90. Should the press be tightly controlled by the government? (Y/N)
Section 8: Fair Democracies
91. Do you think the United States should abolish the Electoral College? Explain your reasoning.
92. Voter fraud occurs when a voter votes twice in a single election, votes without being registered (e.g., when a non-citizen votes) or votes for another person. Do you believe voter fraud is a huge problem?
- Yes.
- No.
- I don’t know.
93. Election fraud occurs when, among other things, the ruling class does things like passing voter I.D. laws based on race, gerrymandering districts along racial lines, manipulating voter rolls, and manipulating electrical vote-tallying machines to flip votes. Do you feel this is a prevalent problem?
- Yes, and it’s a greater problem than voter fraud is.
- No.
- I don’t know.
94. Should there be same-day registration in all states? (Explain.)
95. Should there be automatic registrations for American citizens who turn 18 and Americans 18 and older who obtain identification cards? (Y/N)
96. “Money in politics is one of the greatest threats to our democracy.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
- I strongly agree.
- I agree somewhat.
- I’m neutral.
- I disagree somewhat.
- I strongly disagree.
97. Should all elections be publicly funded? (Y/N)
98. Should any political party use the election process to determine their nominees and if so, should all primaries be open? Explain.
99. In 2013, the United States Supreme Court nullified key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, arguing that the law put unfair restrictions on Southern states. Should we reinstate all provisions of the Voting Rights Act, but make it apply to all states? (Y/N)
100. What else should be done to improve the American elections process? Choose all options you agree with.
- Get rid of political parties.
- Only allow politicians to register with political parties.
- Allow more presidential candidates to take part in national debates outside of primaries.
- Institute runoff elections.
- Institute nationwide ranked choice voting.
- Run exit polls in all states, and refrain from adjusting the results to match voter tallies.
- All more early voting opportunities.
- Institute voting holidays, by which all workers can have the day off to vote.
- Get rid of electronic voting machines and move to paper ballots.
- Other
Section 9: National Security
101. Should Americans give up rights, like parts of free speech and privacy, in order to strengthen national security?
102. Should law enforcement agencies do surveillance on citizens via social media, based on their dissenting opinions?
103. Did you approve of the Patriot Act the NSA’s domestic spying program? Explain.
104. Are police officers more important than civilians? (Y/N) Did you approve of police departments or regular police procedure? Explain.
105. Are military officers more important than civilians? (Y/N)
106. Should we institute programs to transition military veterans from wars to regular civilian life? For example, should we create programs to deal with post-traumatic stress syndrome and to protect veterans from squatters and predatory lending? (Y/N)
107. What should be done to reform police departments? Choose all answers you agree with.
- Re-institute the Justice Department program started under President Barack Obama to investigate local police departments.
- Mandate police officers to wear body cameras.
- End the war of drugs.
- Provide even enforcement for certain offenses.
- Institute more drug rehab programs.
- Get rid of civil forfeiture or severely curtail it.
- Take away military surplus equipment (like tanks, flak jackets, and Humvees) from local police departments.
- Give more protections to whistle-blowers.
- Hold officers who abuse their power accountable by arresting, firing, indicting, and fairly sentencing the offending officers.
- Stop the school to prison pipeline.
- Other
108. Should minors be tried as adults for serious crimes? (Y/N)
109. Should we increase our military budget, decrease it, or keep spending levels the same?
- Increase it.
- Decrease it.
- Keep spending levels the same.
110. What are your thoughts on gun control? Choose all options you agree with.
- Everyone should be allowed to own a gun (with a few reasonable exceptions, like mental health).
- We should have a national gun registry.
- All gun purchases should require background checks.
- Mentally unstable individuals should have their guns taken away and/or be barred from purchasing guns.
- All assault weapons should be barred from civilian use.
- All gun owners should receive proper training to store, use, and clean their guns.
- Police officers should have to re-register their guns every year to keep track of them.
- Other
Section 10: Free Trade & Finances
111. How do you feel about the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement?
- It allowed for fair competition among the participating nations.
- It hurt workers in the U.S. and Mexico by keeping wages down.
- It had no real effect.
- I don’t know.
112. Are you aware of certain aspects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership? (Y/N)
113. If you answer YES to the previous question, do you agree that the United States should have backed out of the agreement?
114. In your opinion, what should be the most important aspects of any international trade agreement? Choose up to 3.
- It protects the rights of workers.
- It should be fair to all workers, meaning every employee that works for the same countries should earn the same wage, per position.
- All participating nations should be allowed to keep their sovereignty.
- Trade agreements should be more accommodating to businesses.
- Trade agreements should punish currency manipulation.
115. Would you like to see uniform copyright, trademark, and patent laws around the world? (Y/N)
116. Should we break up the big banks? (Y/N)
117. Should we reinstate Glass-Steagall? (Y/N)
118. Do you think the United States should create a national bank to help its citizens get loans and establish their credit?
119. Are credit bureaus necessary? Why or why not?
120. While we do use a credit rating system, what should credit checks be used for? Choose the answer you agree with most.
- Buying big-ticket items, like cars and houses.
- For all employment opportunities.
- Only for jobs dealing with finances and where credit should apply, like working for credit bureaus, banks, the Internal Revenue Services, etc.
- Other
Third Survey: Foreign Affairs
Most of these questions deal with the Middle East, because that is where most of our focus is at the moment.
121. Should the United States close most of the military bases it has around the world?
122. Do you believe Russia is a friend, rival, or enemy of the United States?
- Friend
- Rival
- Enemy
123. Who do you think is a bigger threat: Syrian President Bashar al Assad or ISIS? Please explain your reasoning.
124. Do you think the United States should be involved in regime change in Syria or any other nation? Please explain your reasoning.
125. Do you trust what mainstream and independent press outlets say about the war in Syria?
126. The United States’ military is engaged in hostile action in how many countries?
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- More than 10
- I don’t know
127. Should the United States continue supporting Saudi Arabia in Yemen? (Y/N)
128. Should we stay in Iraq and Afghanistan? (Y/N)
129. Do you view Iran as an enemy of the United States?
- Yes.
- No.
- I don’t know.
130. How should the United States deal with North Korea?
Would You Like to Participate?
Once again, you don’t have to answer all the questions, but if you do decide to answer some, please take a look at the first survey here. Also, if you want, address groups of ten and make your own blog posts about it (but remember to link back to this post.)
Also:
This is my 300th post!
Shmaltz and Menudo 