August 25, 2005
Report & Analysis · Data · Other Poll Releases
While levels of satisfaction with the federal government and the direction of the country are falling across the nation, satisfaction with the way things are going in Georgia remains high among residents (64 percent), according to the latest Peach State Poll. This percentage is slightly higher than that recorded in May 2005.
Opinions about the state’s economy are also more positive in August than in May. The percentage of Georgians rating the economy as “excellent” rose from 3 percent to 7 percent, while the percent of the public rating the economy as poor remained steady at 12 percent. In addition, Georgians are more likely to say that the economy is getting better—up 2 percentage points from May.
The Peach State Poll is a quarterly survey of public opinion conducted by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
Other Peach State Poll results:
* Thirty-five percent of the public cite national security—specifically, the war in Iraq and the battle against international terrorism—as the most important problem facing the United States. Concern about national security is up 11 percentage points from May.
* The economy (21 percent) and education (21 percent) continue to be perceived as the most important problems facing the state of Georgia, in the minds of its residents. Perception of which issue is most important, however, varies by race. For nonwhites, the economy is clearly the most salient issue (37 percent). For whites, education is cited most frequently (26 percent).
* Public confidence in local police remains high overall, and confidence in the media remains comparatively low. Georgians ages 18 to 25, however, have a significantly lower level of confidence in the police and a higher level of confidence in the media than do older Georgians.
These data were taken from a Peach State Poll survey conducted between July 25 and August 5, 2005. The poll included 803 telephone interviews of randomly selected adults in Georgia. For a sample of this size, the margin of error at the 95 percent confidence level is +/-3.5 percent.
The Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a public service and outreach unit of the University of Georgia, has as part of its mission to provide policymakers with systematic, objective research to inform policy decisions. In accordance with that mission, the Peach State Poll aims to give voice to the public on important policy matters and issues pertaining to political, social and economic life in Georgia.
