MISSISSIPPIANS DIVIDED ON MOST PUBLIC ISSUES

An overwhelming 80% of state residents support keeping the state flag the way it is instead of removing the elements of the Confederate flag design, but Mississippians are divided on most other issues. Bare majorities favor a two-term limit on state officials and oppose cutting the size of the legislature in half. Residents are fairly evenly split on banning the controversial television program N.Y.P.D. Blue and whether it was fair to retry Beckwith of the murder of Medgar Evers after thirty years. These results were found in a statewide telephone poll conducted by undergraduate political science students at Mississippi State University with the support of the Social Science Research Center. The results of the poll conducted April 4-13 of 620 adult Mississippi residents were adjusted by demographic characteristics to ensure that all social groups were adequately represented in the survey. With 620 people surveyed, the sample error is plus or minus 4%, which means that if every Mississippi resident had been interviewed, the results could differ from those reported here by as much as 4%.

"We informed those participating in the poll that some people find the state flag offensive because it includes the design of the old Confederate flag, but that others feel that the flag represents Mississippi's heritage," explained survey director Stephen D. Shaffer, Professor of Political Science at Mississippi State University. "Eighty percent of residents nevertheless said that they wanted to keep the flag the way it is and only 14% said that they wanted to change it with 6% having no opinions," said Shaffer. "There are some racial differences on this issue," continued Shaffer, "as 96% of opinionated whites wanted to keep the flag the same, while a substantial minority of 42% of opinionated blacks favored changing the flag."

Other public issues reflected a divided population that may not be very politically astute and that reacts differently depending on how an issue is framed. "Two years ago we just asked people whether or not they supported a two-term limit for state officials and found that 68% favored it and only 24% opposed it. This year we asked people if they supported a two-term limit for state legislators and other state officials 'even if it means that voters cannot reelect someone who is doing a good job'," explained Shaffer. "Only 52% of adult Mississippians favored term limits when cautioned about the negative consequencies with 36% opposed and 12% having no opinions. If a term limit measure gets on the ballot through the new initiative process, it's possible that we could see a close public vote as term limit opponents would seek to 'educate' the public," concluded Shaffer.

Another complex issue on which public reactions depend on how the question is phrased is cutting the size of the state legislature. When informed that "some would like to cut the number of legislators in half in order to save money and promote efficiency," while "others fear that fewer legislators would mean more power for unelected staff members and lobbyists," 53% of Mississippians favor "leaving things the way they are" while 35% back "cutting the number of legislators in half," and 12% offer other responses. "I think that most Mississippians fear that cutting the size of the legislature in half would be going too far, and that a more modest proposal such as that considered by the legislature last session to cut the lawmaking body by 20% over a twenty year period would have more support," concluded Shaffer. "Even then, however, it's a complex issue where public reaction depends on how the issue is framed by proponents and opponents."

Other issues also elicited divided opinions. Regarding the controversial NYPD Blue program that depicts "nudity and profanity," 48% of Mississippians felt that "viewers should have the opportunity to see this program if they wish to," while 45% agreed with stations that decided "to ban this program," with 7% having no opinions. Regarding the Beckwith trial, respondents were informed that he had been "tried twice in the 1960s for the murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, but an all-white, all-male jury couldn't agree on his guilt or innocence. Since there is no statute of limitations on murder, Beckwith was recently tried again, and a racially mixed jury found him guilty," said Shaffer. "Forty-five percent said that it was fair to try him again, while 41% said it was unfair, and 14% offered no opinions. When asked whether they thought that Beckwith was guilty of Evers' murder, 42% said he was guilty, 11% said he was innocent, and 47% said they didn't know or refused to answer," continued Shaffer. "It is not unusual in a criminal case for the general public to have such unsure and divided opinions," concluded Shaffer, "since only the twelve jurors are in the best position to observe each of the witnesses in the trial."

PUBLIC POLICY QUESTIONS, THE 1994 MISSISSIPPI POLL

Q53. Many Mississippi television stations refuse to carry the program N.Y.P.D. Blue, because of the nudity and profanity. Do you agree with their decision to ban this program, or do you think that viewers should have the opportunity to see this program if they wish to?

BAN THE PROGRAM = 45%

DON'T BAN IT = 48%

NO OPINION = 7%

Q54. Some people find the Mississippi state flag offensive, because it includes the design of the old Confederate flag. Others say that the state flag represents Mississippi's heritage. Should the flag be changed to remove the Confederate flag design or should it be kept as it is?

CHANGE THE FLAG = 14%

KEEP IT AS IS = 80%

NO OPINION/REFUSES TO ANSWER = 6%

Q55. Byron De La Beckwith was tried twice in the 1960s for the murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, but an all-white, all-male jury couldn't agree on his guilt or innocence. Since there is no statute of limitations on murder, Beckwith was recently tried again, and a racially mixed jury found him guilty. Do you think it was fair or unfair to try him again?

FAIR TO TRY HIM AGAIN = 45%

UNFAIR TO TRY HIM AGAIN = 41%

NO OPINION/REFUSES TO ANSWER = 14%

Q56. Do you think that Beckwith is guilty of the murder of Medgar Evers?

YES, HE'S GUILTY = 42%

NO, HE'S INNOCENT = 11%

DON'T KNOW = 43%

REFUSES TO ANSWER = 4%

Q57. Do you favor or oppose limiting the terms of state legislators and other state officials to two 4-year terms, even if it means that voters cannot reelect someone who is doing a good job?

FAVOR TERM LIMITS = 52%

OPPOSE TERM LIMITS = 36%

NO OPINION/REFUSES TO ANSWER = 12%

Q58. Some would like to cut the number of legislators in half in order to save money and promote efficiency. Others fear that fewer legislators would mean more power for unelected staff members and lobbyists. Do you favor cutting the number of legislators in half, or leaving things the way they are?

CUT LEGISLATURE IN HALF = 35%

LEAVE THINGS AS THEY ARE = 53%

OTHER RESPONSES (VOLUNTEERED) = 3%

NO OPINION/REFUSES TO ANSWER = 9%

EDUCATION TOP PRIORITY OF MISSISSIPPIANS, POLL SHOWS

Education is the top priority of Mississippi residents, according to a statewide poll conducted by undergraduate political science students at Mississippi State University with the support of the Social Science Research Center. "When asked how much money state and local government in Mississippi should be spending on eleven different programs, public elementary and secondary education was ranked the number one choice of Mississippians, while public higher education was also one of the top four choices," said survey director Steve Shaffer, Professor of Political Science at Mississippi State University. "Education was a top priority when we began our statewide polls back in 1981 during Governor William Winter's push for the landmark Education Reform Act," continued Shaffer, "and it has become an even higher priority in recent years." The results of the poll conducted April 4-13 of 620 adult Mississippi residents were adjusted by demographic characteristics to ensure that all social groups were adequately represented in the survey. With 620 people surveyed, the sample error is plus or minus 4%, which means that if every Mississippi resident had been interviewed, the results could differ from those reported here by as much as 4%.

"The legislature has been responsive to increasing public demand for improved education," said Shaffer. "During the recession year of 1992 they passed a one cent sales tax increase and earmarked the money for education, and this year the lawmakers significantly increased spending on education at all levels," continued Shaffer. "Other important issues that concern Mississippians are improved health care and fighting crime," said Shaffer. "Two-thirds of state residents felt that state and local government should spend more on health care and hospitals and on police forces. Health care and crime have also become more and more important in recent years. In our 1981 poll less than 60% of residents felt that more should be spent in these areas," concluded Shaffer.

"Other concerns of Mississippians are improved streets and highways, attracting industries, providing child day care facilities, and enhancing poverty programs," added Shaffer. "The three lowest priorities of residents have historically been spending on prisons, environmental programs, and promoting tourism. The public's reluctance to spend scarce taxpayer dollars on providing adequate prison space to inmates is reflected in state government's slowness in responding to federal mandates to upgrade prison facilities," explained Shaffer. "It is interesting to see how different social groups have different priorities, and how Mississippi is dividing into progressive and conservative factions," commented Shaffer. "More progressive groups that especially want to spend more on fighting poverty and protecting the environment include self-identified liberals, Democrats, high school dropouts, those with less than $20,000 annual family incomes, blacks, women, young adults under 35, and relative newcomers who have lived in Mississippi less than 20 years," said Shaffer. "Though education and health care programs are high priorities among all Mississippians, they are especially high priorities among these progressive groups," added Shaffer. "More conservative groups that especially want to spend more on police forces and to a lesser degree attracting tourism and building prisons include conservatives, Republicans, the college educated, those with family incomes over $40,000, whites, those over 60 years of age, and life-time residents of Mississippi," concluded Shaffer.