Other possible threats seen as likely by many people include impact of
trade and budget deficits, terrorist attacks, and rising sea levels
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A recent Harris
Poll asked a cross-section of U.S. adults to say how likely they think it
is that various possible events would be "a major threat to the United
States in the next five years." Two of these possible threats are seen as
extremely or very likely by over half of the public:
* 55 percent of all adults think it is extremely or very likely that a
large number of illegal immigrants coming into this country would be a
threat;
* 52 percent of adults believe that a significant loss of jobs to foreign
countries would be an extremely or very likely threat.
These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 1,508 U.S. adults,
surveyed online between January 5 and 12, 2007. However, because split
samples were used, each individual item on the list was asked of between
400 and 500 adults.
The only other possible event seen as an extremely or very likely
threat by more than 40 percent of all adults is a significant natural
disaster destroying areas of a major city (43%). Almost as many (40%) think
that our energy needs exceeding supplies is an extremely or very likely
threat. Thirty-five percent feel that a trade imbalance leading to foreign
ownership of the nation's debt and property is an extremely or very likely
threat.
Substantial, but smaller, percentages of people feel that various types
of terrorist attacks are a threat:
* 26 percent think that attacks against a number of airplanes is an
extremely or very likely threat;
* 24 percent think that an attack with biological weapons is an extremely
or very likely threat;
* However, fewer people (14%) think an attack with a nuclear weapon is an
extremely or very likely threat.
Relatively few people think any of the following are extremely or very
likely threats:
* A major stock market crash (11%);
* A large scale Avian flu epidemic (11%);
* The banking system experiencing a major financial collapse (14%);
* A world war (15%);
* Major riots by groups within the U.S. (20%).
Differences between Republicans and Democrats
There are a few potential threats that are viewed as more or less
likely by Republicans and Democrats. Specifically:
* Republicans (73%) are much more likely than Democrats (43%) to see
large
scale illegal immigration as an extremely or very likely threat;
* Democrats (57%) are somewhat more likely than Republicans (42%) to
see a
significant loss of jobs to foreign countries as an extremely or very
likely threat;
* Democrats (35%) are three times more likely than Republicans (12%) to
see the government not being able to borrow money, due to the debt
load;
* Democrats are also much more likely to see a significant rise in
ocean
levels as a very or extremely likely threat (31% vs. 11%).
TABLE 1
LIKELIHOOD THAT 15 POSSIBLE EVENTS WILL BE MAJOR THREAT TO U.S. IN NEXT FIVE
YEARS
"There are a number of possible threats that the U.S. might face. How
likely
do you think the following will be a major threat to the U.S. in the
next 5
years?"
Base: All Adults
Extremely Extremely Very Somewhat Not at Not at
/Very Likely Likely Likely Likely All All
Likely Likely Familiar
(NET) with
This
% % % % % % %
A large number
of illegal
immigrants
come into the
country 55 37 18 20 14 7 4
A significant
loss of jobs to
foreign countries 52 28 23 20 18 8 2
A significant
natural disaster
destroys large
areas of a
major city 43 21 22 23 24 8 3
Energy needs
significantly
exceed energy
supplies 40 17 23 23 22 11 5
Significant trade
imbalances lead
to foreign
ownership of the
country's debts
and property 35 15 20 21 24 12 9
Terrorists launch a
number of attacks
against airplanes 26 10 16 21 35 15 3
The national
government becomes
unable to borrow
money due to a
huge debt load 26 10 16 17 25 26 5
The country is
attacked with
biological
weapons 24 8 16 20 38 15 3
A significant rise
in the level of
the oceans 23 8 16 21 25 22 8
Major riots by
groups within
this country 20 8 12 23 33 22 3
A major world war
occurs involving
most industrialized
nations 15 7 7 22 30 29 4
The banking system
experiences a major
financial collapse 14 6 8 15 24 42 5
A city within the
country is attacked
with a nuclear
weapon 14 3 11 12 35 35 3
A large scale avian
flu epidemic 11 3 9 21 34 28 5
A major stock
market crash
occurs 11 4 6 23 35 24 7
Note: Totals may not add to 100% because of rounding.
TABLE 2
POSSIBLE THREATS SEEN AS EXTREMELY OR VERY LIKELY . BY PARTY
"There are a number of possible threats that the U.S. might face. How
likely
do you think the following will be a major threat to the U.S. in the
next 5
years?"
Base: All Adults
Party
Total
Republican Democrat Independent
% % % %
A large number of illegal
immigrants come into
the country 55 73 43 57
A significant loss of jobs
to foreign countries 52 42 57 54
A significant natural
disaster destroys large
areas of a major city 43 39 46 45
Energy needs significantly
exceed energy supplies 40 32 41 42
Significant trade
imbalances lead to foreign
ownership of the country's
debts and property 35 32 32 44
Terrorists launch a number
of attacks against
airplanes 26 21 27 31
The national government
becomes unable to borrow
money due to a huge
debt load 26 12 35 25
The country is attacked
with biological weapons 24 17 29 24
A significant rise in the
level of the oceans 23 11 31 23
Major riots by groups
within this country 20 16 23 20
A major world war occurs
involving most
industrialized nations 15 17 16 12
The banking system
experiences a major
financial collapse 14 9 14 13
A city within the country
is attacked with a
nuclear weapon 14 14 14 15
A large scale avian flu
epidemic 11 8 15 11
A major stock market crash
occurs 11 5 10 17
Methodology
This Harris Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States
between January 5 and 12, 2007, among 1,508 adults (aged 18 and over).
However, because split samples were used, each individual item on the list
was asked of between 400 and 500 adults. Figures for age, sex, race,
education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to
bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.
Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents'
propensity to be online.
All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include:
sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed);
measurement error due to question wording and/or question order,
deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse
(including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used)
and weighting.
With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that
result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a
finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should
be avoided.
With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is
possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not
other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure
probability sample of 400, one could say with a ninety-five percent
probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/-5
percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into
account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and
therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the
National Council on Public Polls.
J W11351Z
Q 625
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market
research firm in the world. The company provides innovative research,
insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident
decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in
performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of
the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online
market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the
world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris
Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and
Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a
global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau,
HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data
collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking
research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be
obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com.
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to
participate in online surveys, register at
http://go.hpolsurveys.com/HarrisPoll.
Press Contact:
Tracey McNerney
Harris Interactive
585-214-7756
Harris Interactive Inc. 2/07
SOURCE Harris Interactive
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.harrisinteractive.com
http://go.hpolsurveys.com/HarrisPoll
CONTACT:
Tracey McNerney of Harris Interactive,
+1-585-214-7756
|
