Get Your Data: The Latest Poll Numbers on Global Warming and National Security

An overwhelming majority of Americans think global warming is a problem with serious consequences and that steps should be taken immediately to counter the threat to earth's environment, according to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll.

Nearly 90 percent of the 1,052 people polled said global warming is either a serious or very serious problem. Almost 80 percent said that it is imperative to take immediate steps to counter changes to the planet's atmosphere. The full results of the poll are here (.pdf), but we've attached below some of the more interesting global warming questions if you don't feel like slogging through all the numbers:

33. In the past few years, would you say the weather generally has followed its normal patterns, or has the weather been stranger than usual?
Normal patterns Stranger than usual DK/NA
11/23-24/97 31 67 2
2/8-11/07 CBS 23 76 1
4/20-24/07 24 75 1

41. Which comes closer to your view: 1. Global warming is a very serious problem and should be one of the highest priorities for government leaders OR 2. Global warming is serious but does not need to be a high priority OR 3. Global warming is not serious and can be addressed years from now.
Very Serious: 52
Serious but not a high priority: 37
Not serious: 8
Never needs to be addressed: 1
DK/NA: 2
4/20-22/07

52. Do you think it is necessary to take steps to counter the effects of global warming right away, or isn't it necessary to take steps yet?
Right away Not necessary yet No steps(vol.) DK/NA
6/14-18/01 72 19 3 6
8/17-21/06 76 19 1 4
4/20-24/07 78 19 1 2

61. Do you separate out newspapers, cans or glass bottles in your household for recycling, or don't you?
Yes No DK/NA
3/30-4/2/90 69 27 3
4/20-24/07 78 22 -

A majority of Americans also feel the government has eroded freedom in the pursuit of national security, according to a UPI/Zogby poll this week.

"When asked whether the Bush administration had 'found the right balance between personal security and personal freedom,' only one-third (33 percent) agreed. Nearly half (49 percent) agreed instead that the 'administration has tipped the balance too far towards security.' Only 7 percent agreed with the third option, that the balance was tipped 'too far towards freedom, leaving our security weak.'"

The respondents split predictably along party lines. Progressives and liberals are almost unanimous in thinking that the administration has trampled on personal freedoms. Sixty percent of moderates agree. But almost 70 percent of Republicans think the White House has adequately balanced personal freedoms with national security. Twenty-eight percent of independents side with the Republicans, 53 percent with the Dems.

Around two-thirds of the people polled think it's okay to collect personal data on foreign airline passengers entering the U.S. Nearly the same amount thought the government should be required to obtain a warrant or court order to snoop on the phone or email conversations of American citizens and legal immigrants.

Image: Klik Bikoitza