Americans Have No Appetite For Politics At Thanksgiving Table, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; 7 In 10 Plan To Give Same Amount To Charity As Last Year
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In a country gripped by political polarization, Americans across the board agree on something: they are not in the mood to talk politics this Thanksgiving. Two-thirds of Americans, 66 percent, say they are hoping to avoid discussing politics while visiting family or friends this Thanksgiving, and 21 percent say they are looking forward to discussing politics, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of adults released today.
As for how likely people think there will be a heated political debate among their family or friends at Thanksgiving, half (50 percent) say not likely at all, 24 percent say not so likely, 15 percent say somewhat likely, and 9 percent say very likely.
"A heaping serving of political back and forth with your cranberries and stuffing? No way, say Americans, who would far rather feast on the big meal than feud with each other on Turkey Day," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
CHARITABLE GIVING
Another thing Americans of all stripes agree on: charitable giving. Seventy percent say they plan to give about the same amount to charity as they did last year, 19 percent say they plan to give more, and 7 percent say they plan to give less.
"The pandemic nightmare may have brought emotional, and in some cases, financial upheaval to American homes, but it did not chip away at their charitable instincts," added Malloy.
1,378 U.S. adults nationwide were surveyed from November 11th - 15th with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
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Question 45. If you are visiting with family or friends this Thanksgiving, are you looking forward to discussing politics, or are you hoping to avoid discussing politics?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Looking forward 21% 22% 22% 20% 23% 19% 25% 20% Hoping to avoid 66 68 66 69 63 69 64 68 NOT VISITING(VOL) 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 NEITHER(VOL) 8 8 6 9 10 7 7 8 DK/NA 3 2 4 2 3 3 3 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Looking forward 18% 20% 21% 23% 26% 17% 21% 17% 20% Hoping to avoid 67 68 70 61 63 70 67 70 67 NOT VISITING(VOL) - 1 1 5 1 1 1 2 1 NEITHER(VOL) 12 8 5 8 8 8 8 8 12 DK/NA 2 2 3 4 2 4 3 3 - -
Question 46. How likely do you think it is that there will be a heated political debate among either your family or friends at this Thanksgiving; very likely, somewhat likely, not so likely, or not likely at all?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very likely 9% 10% 8% 10% 9% 9% 11% 11% Smwht likely 15 13 16 20 19 12 15 17 Not so likely 24 24 24 23 26 22 30 22 Not likely at all 50 52 50 47 44 55 44 50 DK/NA 2 1 3 - 2 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very likely 12% 10% 9% 6% 10% 11% 11% 10% 3% Smwht likely 19 19 13 14 18 14 16 15 21 Not so likely 26 23 22 23 25 24 25 17 24 Not likely at all 39 47 56 56 46 50 48 56 48 DK/NA 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 4 -
Question 47. Thinking about this holiday season, do you plan to give more to charity this year than last year, less to charity, or about the same as last year?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No More 19% 18% 18% 19% 18% 20% 22% 18% Less 7 12 6 6 7 7 7 9 About the same 70 70 71 72 71 70 71 71 DK/NA 4 1 5 3 4 3 1 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp More 20% 23% 17% 17% 17% 20% 19% 20% 18% Less 2 7 9 11 7 8 8 4 7 About the same 71 67 72 70 73 70 71 71 66 DK/NA 7 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 8 -
Question 47a. (If giving more q47) Would you say a lot more, somewhat more, or only a little more?
ADULTS - GIVING MORE Q47 Total Lot more 28% Smwht more 50 Little more 20 DK/NA 2 -
Question 47b. (If giving less q47) Would you say a lot less, somewhat less, or only a little less?
ADULTS - GIVING LESS Q47 Total Lot less 49% Smwht less 28 Little less 22 DK/NA 1 -
Question 47c. Thinking about this holiday season, do you plan to give more to charity this year than last year, less to charity, or about the same as last year? COMBINED WITH: (If giving more q47) Would you say a lot more, somewhat more, or only a little more? (If giving less q47) Would you say a lot less, somewhat less, or only a little less?
ADULTS..................................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Lot more 5% 4% 4% 7% 5% 5% 7% 4% Smwht more 10 10 8 9 9 10 11 9 Little more 4 3 5 4 4 4 3 4 About the same 70 70 71 72 71 70 71 71 Little less 2 3 1 1 1 2 1 2 Smwht less 2 3 3 1 1 3 2 2 Lot less 3 5 2 3 4 3 3 4 DK/NA 4 1 5 3 5 4 1 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Lot more 7% 7% 4% 4% 5% 5% 5% 8% 6% Smwht more 10 11 10 8 9 10 10 8 9 Little more 3 5 3 5 3 5 4 4 3 About the same 71 67 72 70 73 70 71 71 66 Little less 1 1 2 3 1 2 2 - 2 Smwht less - 3 1 4 1 2 2 1 2 Lot less 1 3 6 4 5 3 4 3 2 DK/NA 8 2 2 2 3 2 2 5 8