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Statewide Poll Findings

What do you think about public policy and citizenship in Minnesota?

In addition to qualitative research, MAP 150 performed a statistically valid statewide poll to gather quantitative data. This poll tested both what we heard from our outreach work where we sent journalists throughout the state to gather Minnesotans’ stories, as well as what things unite us as Minnesotans so that we can start meaningful discussions with one another.

About the poll
The MAP 150 poll is a survey of 800 Minnesotans conducted during the fall of 2006. The poll was designed to:

  • learn whether Minnesotans are optimistic about the future
  • identify their major concerns
  • test Minnesotans’ tolerances and values around various policy solutions (not to identify public support for specific policy solutions), and
  • probe their views of citizenship and civic involvement.

135 questions, the survey was unusually comprehensive, taking about 40 minutes to complete. Nevertheless the non-response rate was very low at only 4.5%. About 70% of those participating actually scheduled an appointed time to take the survey.

Summary Results: Four Key Themes

  1. Minnesotans are cautiously optimistic about the future, especially whether their individual prospects are concerned.
    • 76% said MN is still the land of opportunity for everyone.
    • 79% agreed that Minnesotans can find ways to solve our problems.
    • 70% said they have some concerns, but are optimistic about paying their bills, educating their children, saving for retirement.
    • 64% believe that young people just starting their careers can be as successful as earlier generations.
    • 82% feel a sense of control over personal and professional life.
    • 74% trust the people they know and come in contact with (neighbors & friends).
    • 68% do not think of MN as divided into the have’s and have-not’s.
  2. Minnesotans are losing confidence in the systems and institutions that support broader society.
    • 47% think Minnesota is on the wrong track.
    • 44% said that elected officials in Minnesota don’t care what people think.
    • 39% feel that government in Minnesota is almost always wasteful and inefficient.
    • 52% think too much power is concentrated in the hands of a few large companies in Minnesota.
    • 52% think that insurance company profits and excessive charges by doctors and hospitals are the primary factor in the rising cost of health care.
    • 81% said they would feel better about paying taxes if it were clearer how the money is used.
    • 63% think that Minnesota needs more school choice.
  3. Minnesotans think citizens have a role in solving problems, but surprisingly, the conventional barriers to civic activity did not appear highly problematic.
    • 54% said that citizens have more to offer to help solve problems, but they are often not listened to or given a chance (as opposed to being given a chance but not being well-informed).
    • 63% believe that citizens should have a greater responsibility in solving public problems.
    • After voting, Minnesotans see good citizenship as starting with their families and the people closest to them.
    • The most important barrier to civic activity was that there’s too much talk and too little action (46% said it was a serious or somewhat serious barrier).
  4. Minnesotans expressed a clear view of the most important issues facing the state.
    • Transparency with taxes and spending. Controlling taxes, especially property taxes, was cited by 26% as their top concern. More generally though, Minnesotans expressed a willingness to invest more, but only with evidence that taxes would be spent wisely. 81% said they would feel better about paying taxes if it were clearer to them how the money is being spent.
    • The future of health care. 55% said that the affordability of health care today is a serious or somewhat serious concern for their family. Forward-looking concerns were also cited. The possibility of losing insurance if they changed or lost a job was one of the most serious health care problems cited for Minnesotans, and the possibility of paying long-term health care, nursing home care, or assisted living for themselves or a loved one was also cited as major problem, by 39% and 48% respectively. Minnesotans believe that everyone should have access to affordable health care and are supportive of government providing a safety net to accomplish this.
    • The quality of education. 2/3 say the quality of K-12 education is a problem. 72% agree the quality has stayed the same or gotten worse in the last 4 years. Only 2-10% believe our K-12 education system has improved in the following important areas: preparation for college, preparation to be successful in a global economy, effective and high quality teaching, funding for teaching of basic skills, preparation to contribute to society, discipline in school, etc. Citizens haven’t assigned blame for the system’s shortcomings, but are concerned enough about quality that they are willing to consider other options, including major system reform.

Other Findings
Economic Security – While 89% of Minnesotans are satisfied with their job, they see a dramatically changed work environment over the last 20-30 years, one in which there is less job security, harder work, reduced benefits, increased job stress and less loyalty to employees and to the employer. The interplay between these two findings suggests that Minnesotans are perhaps more accepting of the risk inherent in today’s work place. 47% said it would be possible to hire someone outside the U.S. to do their job.

Agreements/disagreements – Minnesotans expressed general agreement on the challenges facing the state, but they did not agree about the best solutions to those challenges. Fault lines have also developed on two issues where poll respondents were about evenly split: whether immigration is a burden or strength for Minnesota and whether or not government should do more to protect morality.

Eight Profiles
From the survey, eight ideological blocs emerged that may determine voting patterns and views more than the political parties do. These blocs and their relative size are:

  • Government as a Social Force (17%) are Minnesotans who believe that government can do more to shape society in areas such as morality and income disparities. They also tend to think that citizens can do more. Typically they are Republicans, Evangelical Christians, women, and have some college education. They live in urban centers, inside the 494/694 beltway, or in Northern Minnesota.
  • The Skeptics (16%) have lost confidence in government and institutions. Their political affiliations tend to be Independent or Republican. They cross all income levels, tend to be younger (mostly under 45), and live in emerging suburbs or central urban areas. There is no gender split.
  • The Financially Insecure (12%) are dissatisfied with their financial situation, pessimistic about the future and do not feel they have control over their lives. They are defined mainly by income, earning less than $35,000 year, but also tend to be men and Democrats.
  • Libertarians (11%) emerged in an almost classic profile, believing that government is too involved and citizens should do more. They tend to be upper income, well-educated, Republican or Independent men.
  • No Problems (9%) are Minnesotans who are confident about most everything: government, economic institutions and their own financial situation. They tend to be men of Independent or moderate Republican political affiliations, middle- to upper-income, and live in smaller towns.
  • The Preservationists (9%) are Minnesotans who believe that newcomers threaten traditional customs and values and that immigrants are a burden. Their religious faith is very important to them. They tend to be politically conservative, Christian but not Evangelical, male, of lower educational attainment, lower-income and live in suburbs and southern Minnesota.
  • The Politically Empowered (8%) believe that government works well, corporations don’t have too much power, and elected officials stay in touch with voters. They tend to be Democrats and Independents, 35 – 54 years old, and equally split between male and female.
  • Open Arms (7%) mirror the Preservationists. They tend to be liberal Democrats, women, 18 – 34 years old, well-educated, secular, and live in first and second ring suburbs, as well as central and northern Minnesota.

Note: ten percent of respondents could not be characterized.