MAKING ENDS MEET POST-FORUM QUESTIONNAIRE

Making Ends Meet: How Should We Spread Prosperity and Improve Opportunity?

NOW THAT YOU’VE HAD a chance to participate in a forum on this issue, we’d like to know what you are thinking. Your opinions, along with those of thousands of others who participated in these forums, will be reflected in a summary report that will be available to all citizens, including those who took part in the forums, as well as officeholders, members of the news media, and others in your community.

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* 1. Do you agree or disagree with the statements below?

	Strongly Agree	Somewhat Agree	Somewhat Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Not Sure
College students should assume the lion’s share of the responsibility for paying for their own education.	College students should assume the lion’s share of the responsibility for paying for their own education. Strongly Agree	College students should assume the lion’s share of the responsibility for paying for their own education. Somewhat Agree	College students should assume the lion’s share of the responsibility for paying for their own education. Somewhat Disagree	College students should assume the lion’s share of the responsibility for paying for their own education. Strongly Disagree	College students should assume the lion’s share of the responsibility for paying for their own education. Not Sure
If Congress cut corporate taxes, American companies would stop moving jobs and facilities overseas.	If Congress cut corporate taxes, American companies would stop moving jobs and facilities overseas. Strongly Agree	If Congress cut corporate taxes, American companies would stop moving jobs and facilities overseas. Somewhat Agree	If Congress cut corporate taxes, American companies would stop moving jobs and facilities overseas. Somewhat Disagree	If Congress cut corporate taxes, American companies would stop moving jobs and facilities overseas. Strongly Disagree	If Congress cut corporate taxes, American companies would stop moving jobs and facilities overseas. Not Sure
Americans who work hard and spend their money wisely will prosper even in today’s economy.	Americans who work hard and spend their money wisely will prosper even in today’s economy. Strongly Agree	Americans who work hard and spend their money wisely will prosper even in today’s economy. Somewhat Agree	Americans who work hard and spend their money wisely will prosper even in today’s economy. Somewhat Disagree	Americans who work hard and spend their money wisely will prosper even in today’s economy. Strongly Disagree	Americans who work hard and spend their money wisely will prosper even in today’s economy. Not Sure
The most important problem in our economy is the growing gap between the very rich and everyone else.	The most important problem in our economy is the growing gap between the very rich and everyone else. Strongly Agree	The most important problem in our economy is the growing gap between the very rich and everyone else. Somewhat Agree	The most important problem in our economy is the growing gap between the very rich and everyone else. Somewhat Disagree	The most important problem in our economy is the growing gap between the very rich and everyone else. Strongly Disagree	The most important problem in our economy is the growing gap between the very rich and everyone else. Not Sure
There is not enough government help for people who suffer job losses, serious health problems, or other unforeseen financial disasters.	There is not enough government help for people who suffer job losses, serious health problems, or other unforeseen financial disasters. Strongly Agree	There is not enough government help for people who suffer job losses, serious health problems, or other unforeseen financial disasters. Somewhat Agree	There is not enough government help for people who suffer job losses, serious health problems, or other unforeseen financial disasters. Somewhat Disagree	There is not enough government help for people who suffer job losses, serious health problems, or other unforeseen financial disasters. Strongly Disagree	There is not enough government help for people who suffer job losses, serious health problems, or other unforeseen financial disasters. Not Sure
Small businesses are, and always have been, the main engine driving the economy.	Small businesses are, and always have been, the main engine driving the economy. Strongly Agree	Small businesses are, and always have been, the main engine driving the economy. Somewhat Agree	Small businesses are, and always have been, the main engine driving the economy. Somewhat Disagree	Small businesses are, and always have been, the main engine driving the economy. Strongly Disagree	Small businesses are, and always have been, the main engine driving the economy. Not Sure

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* 2. Do you favor or oppose each of these actions?

	Strongly Favor	Somewhat Favor	Somewhat Oppose	Strongly Oppose	Not Sure
We should raise the unemployment tax that businesses pay so we can extend the length of job benefits, EVEN IF this would cut into companies' profits or raise prices.	We should raise the unemployment tax that businesses pay so we can extend the length of job benefits, EVEN IF this would cut into companies' profits or raise prices. Strongly Favor	We should raise the unemployment tax that businesses pay so we can extend the length of job benefits, EVEN IF this would cut into companies' profits or raise prices. Somewhat Favor	We should raise the unemployment tax that businesses pay so we can extend the length of job benefits, EVEN IF this would cut into companies' profits or raise prices. Somewhat Oppose	We should raise the unemployment tax that businesses pay so we can extend the length of job benefits, EVEN IF this would cut into companies' profits or raise prices. Strongly Oppose	We should raise the unemployment tax that businesses pay so we can extend the length of job benefits, EVEN IF this would cut into companies' profits or raise prices. Not Sure
We should raise the minimum wage, EVEN IF this would cause some small businesses to lay off employees.	We should raise the minimum wage, EVEN IF this would cause some small businesses to lay off employees. Strongly Favor	We should raise the minimum wage, EVEN IF this would cause some small businesses to lay off employees. Somewhat Favor	We should raise the minimum wage, EVEN IF this would cause some small businesses to lay off employees. Somewhat Oppose	We should raise the minimum wage, EVEN IF this would cause some small businesses to lay off employees. Strongly Oppose	We should raise the minimum wage, EVEN IF this would cause some small businesses to lay off employees. Not Sure
More workers should organize or join unions to improve workers' pay and benefits, EVEN IF this makes it harder for US manufacturers to compete with foreign companies in Asia and Latin America.	More workers should organize or join unions to improve workers' pay and benefits, EVEN IF this makes it harder for US manufacturers to compete with foreign companies in Asia and Latin America. Strongly Favor	More workers should organize or join unions to improve workers' pay and benefits, EVEN IF this makes it harder for US manufacturers to compete with foreign companies in Asia and Latin America. Somewhat Favor	More workers should organize or join unions to improve workers' pay and benefits, EVEN IF this makes it harder for US manufacturers to compete with foreign companies in Asia and Latin America. Somewhat Oppose	More workers should organize or join unions to improve workers' pay and benefits, EVEN IF this makes it harder for US manufacturers to compete with foreign companies in Asia and Latin America. Strongly Oppose	More workers should organize or join unions to improve workers' pay and benefits, EVEN IF this makes it harder for US manufacturers to compete with foreign companies in Asia and Latin America. Not Sure
We should cut taxes to allow individuals and companies to keep more of what they earn, EVEN IF this means spending cuts in health care, defense, education, and other important government programs.	We should cut taxes to allow individuals and companies to keep more of what they earn, EVEN IF this means spending cuts in health care, defense, education, and other important government programs. Strongly Favor	We should cut taxes to allow individuals and companies to keep more of what they earn, EVEN IF this means spending cuts in health care, defense, education, and other important government programs. Somewhat Favor	We should cut taxes to allow individuals and companies to keep more of what they earn, EVEN IF this means spending cuts in health care, defense, education, and other important government programs. Somewhat Oppose	We should cut taxes to allow individuals and companies to keep more of what they earn, EVEN IF this means spending cuts in health care, defense, education, and other important government programs. Strongly Oppose	We should cut taxes to allow individuals and companies to keep more of what they earn, EVEN IF this means spending cuts in health care, defense, education, and other important government programs. Not Sure
We should bite the bullet and take steps to stabilize Social Security, EVEN IF future beneficiaries have to sacrifice in the form of later retirement, reduced benefits, or higher payroll taxes.	We should bite the bullet and take steps to stabilize Social Security, EVEN IF future beneficiaries have to sacrifice in the form of later retirement, reduced benefits, or higher payroll taxes. Strongly Favor	We should bite the bullet and take steps to stabilize Social Security, EVEN IF future beneficiaries have to sacrifice in the form of later retirement, reduced benefits, or higher payroll taxes. Somewhat Favor	We should bite the bullet and take steps to stabilize Social Security, EVEN IF future beneficiaries have to sacrifice in the form of later retirement, reduced benefits, or higher payroll taxes. Somewhat Oppose	We should bite the bullet and take steps to stabilize Social Security, EVEN IF future beneficiaries have to sacrifice in the form of later retirement, reduced benefits, or higher payroll taxes. Strongly Oppose	We should bite the bullet and take steps to stabilize Social Security, EVEN IF future beneficiaries have to sacrifice in the form of later retirement, reduced benefits, or higher payroll taxes. Not Sure
Banks should make more loans available to small businesses, EVEN IF these are much risker and lead to more defaults, as we saw in the housing crisis.	Banks should make more loans available to small businesses, EVEN IF these are much risker and lead to more defaults, as we saw in the housing crisis. Strongly Favor	Banks should make more loans available to small businesses, EVEN IF these are much risker and lead to more defaults, as we saw in the housing crisis. Somewhat Favor	Banks should make more loans available to small businesses, EVEN IF these are much risker and lead to more defaults, as we saw in the housing crisis. Somewhat Oppose	Banks should make more loans available to small businesses, EVEN IF these are much risker and lead to more defaults, as we saw in the housing crisis. Strongly Oppose	Banks should make more loans available to small businesses, EVEN IF these are much risker and lead to more defaults, as we saw in the housing crisis. Not Sure

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* 3. Are you thinking differently about this issue now that you have participated in the forum?

Yes

If yes, how?

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* 4. In your forum, did you talk about aspects of the issue you hadn’t considered before?

Yes

If yes, please explain.

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* 5. What could citizens, working together, do in their own communities to address this problem?

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* 6. Not including this forum, how many National Issues Forums have you attended?

1-3

4-6

7 or more

Not sure

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* 7. Are you male or female?

Male

Female

Other

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* 8. How old are you?

17 or younger

18-30

31-45

46-64

65 or older

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* 9. Are you:

African American

Asian American

Hispanic or Latino

Native American

White/Caucasian

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Where do you live?

Rural

Small Town

Large City

Suburban

MAKING ENDS MEET POST-FORUM QUESTIONNAIRE

Making Ends Meet: How Should We Spread Prosperity and Improve Opportunity?

Question Title

* 1. Do you agree or disagree with the statements below?

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* 2. Do you favor or oppose each of these actions?

Question Title

* 3. Are you thinking differently about this issue now that you have participated in the forum?

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* 4. In your forum, did you talk about aspects of the issue you hadn’t considered before?

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* 5. What could citizens, working together, do in their own communities to address this problem?

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* 6. Not including this forum, how many National Issues Forums have you attended?

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* 7. Are you male or female?

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* 8. How old are you?

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* 9. Are you:

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* 10. Where do you live?

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* 11. What is your zip code?

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* 12. What state do you live in?

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* 13. Did you attend this forum in person or online?