Public opinion news and stories by mail.com

Public opinion

Russia targets pollster for 'political activity'
Russia's only independent polling agency said Monday it may have to close after prosecutors targeted it for "political activity" under a law ...
EU survey reveals many gays live in fear
Across Europe, gay couples are scared of publicly engaging in even the most basic expression of their affection: Holding hands. Released Friday, the ...
Poll shows favorable views of EU in sharp decline
Positive views of the European Union by its citizens are near all-time lows. And no EU country is plunging faster into the abyss of gloom than France.
Obama slams GOP focus on Benghazi as politics
House Republicans pushed ahead Monday with their investigation of the deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, last year as ...
Shattered EU dreams at heart of Bulgarian election
The big theme of Bulgaria's parliamentary elections this weekend: mounting frustration over the widening gap between the giddy hopes linked to EU ...
Gun control forces struggle to keep issue alive
Gun control forces are targeting Sens. Kelly Ayotte, Max Baucus and others as they struggle to persuade five senators to switch their votes and revive ...
Survey: Moms lead way in discussing family finance
Who's better at getting a family to talk about money matters, mom or dad? Taking sides probably won't make for a harmonious Mother's Day celebration ...
Chile's Bachelet courts Communists for big reforms
Communist and other leftists were considered enemies of the state during Chile's military dictatorship, a 17-year period that saw thousands of people ...
NYC to add 640K people to evacuation zones
Hurricane evacuation areas would encompass 640,000 more city residents, and the number of zones would double, under plans disclosed Friday.
Study: Adults minimize steroid use as problem
American adults rank steroid use among adolescents as less of a problem than alcohol, bullying, marijuana and sexually transmitted diseases, according ...
'I'm gay': NBA player Jason Collins breaks barrier
Last summer, NBA veteran Jason Collins considered joining an old Stanford college roommate, U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, at Boston's gay pride parade
NBA veteran center Jason Collins comes out as gay
With the simplest of sentences, NBA veteran Jason Collins set aside years of worry and silence to become the first active player in one of four major ...
Men's pro sports finally joins gay-rights trend
By coming out as gay while still an active NBA player, Jason Collins breaks one of the last remaining barriers for gays and lesbians in era of ...
Berlusconi predicts success in Italian talks
Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi predicted Friday that Italy would succeed in forming a governing coalition out of bitterly rival blocs ...
Coordinated strategy propelled gay marriage in RI
Phone banks, an army of volunteers and alliances with organized labor, business leaders and religious clergy propelled gay marriage to victory in ...
Politics on hold at the dedication of Bush library
George W. Bush shed a sentimental tear. Barack Obama mused about the burdens of the office. Bill Clinton dished out wisecracks. Jimmy Carter and ...
Survey: Americans felt more secure in jobs in 2012
Confidence in the U.S. job market has rebounded to roughly a normal level from its record low after the Great Recession, a trend that could help boost ...
The Bush and Clinton families, on stage in Texas
They have dominated American politics for the past three decades: the Bush and Clinton families, taking turns in a string of positions of power and ...
Long-term care in aging US: Not for me, poll says
We're in denial: Americans underestimate their chances of needing long-term care as they get older — and are taking few steps to get ready. A new poll ...
Congressional immigration debate signals big shift
The national mood on immigration has changed dramatically since Arizona approved a first-of-its-kind immigration law, igniting a furor over border ...
Venezuelan govt targets disaffected ex-supporters
The razor-close vote to replace late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has sparked what opposition leaders and human rights groups say is a government ...
Iran's leader accused of manipulating public views
Iran's armed forces joint chief of staff is accusing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of trying to manipulate public opinion. It is the latest exchange ...
Study: Lax attitude on teens and Rx drug abuse
More parents need to talk with their teens about the dangers of abusing Ritalin, Adderall and other prescription drugs, suggests a new study that ...
Suburbs now playing a key role in gun legislation
In the emotional politics of gun control, the suburbs seem to be emerging as a new sphere of influence. The Senate's defeat last week of firearms ...
US teens doing better than public realizes: survey
American teenagers aren't doing as poorly on international science tests as adults think. Despite the misconception, people don't think the subject ...