“A majority of the American public believe that the U.S. government engages in widespread monitoring of its own citizens and worry that the U.S. government could be invading their own privacy,” said Monmouth University in a recent media release to the Daily Business News.
“The Monmouth University Poll also finds a large bipartisan majority who feel that national policy is being manipulated or directed by a “Deep State” of unelected government officials,” said their statement.
“Americans of color on the center and left and NRA members on the right are among those most worried about the reach of government prying into average citizens’ lives,” Monmouth’s polling summary stated.
The timing of the poll results coincides with concerns over social media giant Facebook, and how they handle – and distribute – the data they collect. Other tech-giants are drawing scrutiny, as more Americans wonder just how much tech, government, media and politics touch each other in ways that attempt to manipulate or control Americans.
Politics, Economics, Media, Markets and Manufactured Housing
Last week’s market dive, was followed by yesterday’s #3 all time record rise in the Dow. Observers have noted that correlation between political news and market movements. Those moves naturally impact manufactured home stocks and businesses too.
Just over half of the public is either very worried (23%) or somewhat worried (30%) about the U.S. government monitoring their activities and invading their privacy.
There are no significant partisan differences, per Monmouth in this poll. 57% of independents, 51% of Republicans, and 50% of Democrats are at least somewhat worried the federal government is monitoring their activities. Another 24% of the American public are not too worried and 22% are not at all worried.
Fully 8-in-10 believe that the U.S. government currently monitors or spies on the activities of American citizens, including a majority (53%) who say this activity is widespread and another 29% who say such monitoring happens but is not widespread. Just 14% say this monitoring does not happen at all. There are no substantial partisan differences in these results.
“This is a worrisome finding. The strength of our government relies on public faith in protecting our freedoms, which is not particularly robust. And it’s not a Democratic or Republican issue. These concerns span the political spectrum,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.
The entire poll is found here as a download.
Monmouth is seen by media voices on the right as favoring left leaning/progressive causes. This poll has more “self-identified” Democrats than Republicans. ## (News, analysis, and commentary.)
(Third party image credits are as shown.)
Submitted by Soheyla Kovach to the Daily Business News on MHProNews.
