60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll s1

60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll Ethics June 11-15, 2014

 Which one of the following is the biggest ethical misjudgment in American history?

Slavery is American’s greatest ethical misjudgment.

America may have much to be proud of, but when it comes to its greatest ethical misjudgment, slavery tops the list. 38% pick slavery as the greatest ethical misjudgment in American history, followed by the treatment of Native Americans (20%) from a list of five choices.

Further down on the list are three wartime events that occurred over the past eighty years. 13% think the greatest ethical misjudgment was the Vietnam War, while 11% pick the Iraq War – which lasted longer but resulted in far fewer casualties. Last on the list is the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – which ended World War II at the cost of the lives of over 100,000 Japanese civilians.

Biggest Ethical Misjudgment in U.S. History Total 18-64 65+ Whites Blacks Slavery 38% 41% 22% 37% 49% Treatment of Native Americans 20 20 23 20 17 Vietnam War 13 10 24 13 8 Iraq War 11 10 17 10 12 Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 7 8 4 7 9

Slavery is the top choice of whites (37%) and even more so of blacks: one in two blacks rate it as the biggest ethical misjudgment. There are differences by age as well. While slavery is the by far the top choice of Americans under 65, it is third among those 65 and over (22%), edged out be the Vietnam War (24%)and the treatment of Native Americans (23%).

 Which is worse ethically when it comes to fast food restaurants - underpaying their workers or serving unhealthy food?

Which is worse when it comes to fast food restaurants? Republicans say serving unhealthy food; Democrats say underpaying their workers.

When it comes to fast food, Americans are divided as to which is worse: how much they pay their employees or the food they serve to their customers. While 48% of Americans think underpaying their workers is worse ethically, 47% think it is serving unhealthy food.

There are political differences on this question. Most Republicans (58%) think serving unhealthy food is worse ethically, while most Democrats (56%) think underpaying their workers is worse. Independents, like Americans overall, are divided.

Which is Worse Ethically When it Comes to Fast Food Restaurants? Total Reps Dems Inds Underpaying their workers 48% 36% 56% 48% Serving unhealthy food 47 58 41 47  Do you think Edward Snowden acted ethically or not when he leaked information about a secret government surveillance program?

Americans don’t think Edward Snowden acted ethically, particularly older Americans.

Although he considers himself a patriot and claims he acted based on ethical grounds, most Americans do not think Edward Snowden acted ethically when he leaked information about a secret U.S. government surveillance program. While 27% think he acted ethically, exactly twice as many – 54% - thinks he did not, while one in five don’t have an opinion.

There is little difference by party: more Republicans, Democrats, and independents don’t think Edward Snowden acted ethically. Younger Americans, however, are more forgiving than older Americans. 35% of Americans under 35 think Snowden acted ethically, compared to 17% of Americans 65 and older.

Did Edward Snowden Act Ethically? Total 18-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Yes 27% 35% 31% 24% 23% 17% No 54 45 50 57 58 65 Don’t know 19 20 20 19 19 19

 Which one of the following is ethically the worst? 1. A writer who plagiarizes, 2. A doctor who prescribes unnecessary medication to make money, 3. A stock broker who defrauds investors 4. A student who cheats on a test.

Doctor misconduct is worse than stock broker fraud.

When it comes to professional malpractice, Americans are particularly critical of the medical profession. When asked to choose which form of occupational behavior is the worst ethically from a list of four, 59% pick a doctor who prescribes unnecessary medication to make money, nearly twice as many as those who pick a stock broker who defrauds investors (30%). Far down on the list is a student who cheats on a test (4%) or a writer who plagiarizes (2%).

Americans with more income to invest are more critical of potentially having their investments at risk. While 27% of Americans earning less than $50,000 a year pick the stock broker who defrauds investors, this rises to 37% of those earning $100,000 a year or more.

Which Activity is the Worst Ethically? Total <$50K $50k-$100K $100K+ A doctor who prescribes unnecessary medication 59% 61% 57% 58% A stock broker who defrauds investors 30 27 34 37 A student who cheats on a test 4 5 4 1 A writer who plagiarizes 2 2 3 3  If you found out a family you liked who lived next door were in the U.S. illegally, would you report them or not?

Most Americans wouldn’t report their neighbors if they were living in the U.S. illegally.

What would you do if you found out your neighbors were living in the U.S. illegally? For most Americans the answer is let them be, at least if they like them. 69% of Americans would not report their neighbors under such circumstances, though 25% say they would.

Most Americans regardless of political affiliation would not turn in their illegal neighbors, though Republicans (35%) are significantly more likely to do so than Democrats (22%) or independents (23%). And resistance to turning in one’s neighbors grows with income: while 30% of Americans who earn under $50,000 a year would turn in their neighbors, this drops to 17% of those earning $100,000 a year or more.

Would You Report Illegal Immigrants living Next Door? Total Reps Dems Inds <$50K $50K-$100K $100K+ Report them 25% 35% 22% 23% 30% 23% 17% Not report them 69 57 74 71 67 70 78

 When do you think it’s acceptable to look at a spouse’s emails or texts without their permission? 1. Whenever you can get away with it. 2 . Whenever you’re suspicious of whom they’re talking to. 3. Only in an emergency. 4. It’s never acceptable.

Women are more inclined to read their spouse’s email when they’re suspicious than men are.

When can you read your spouse’s emails without their permission? For most Americans it’s not something to be done unless there are extreme circumstances, if at all. 39% say you should never read your spouse’s emails, while another 39% say it should only be done in an emergency. A small percentage of Americans are more permissive: 12% think you should read your spouse’s emails whenever you are suspicious of whom they are in contact with, while another 5% think you should read their emails whenever you can get away with it.

Women are more likely than men to think it’s okay to read their spouse’s emails when suspicion warrants it (though most still don’t think it’s okay). Younger Americans are also more likely than older Americans to think it’s okay: 19% of those under 35 think it’s acceptable to read their spouse’s email when they’re suspicious, compared to just 5% of those 65 and older.

When Can You Read Your Spouse’s Emails Without Their Permission? Total Men Women 18-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Whenever you can get away with it 5% 3% 6% 3% 4% 8% 5% 3% Whenever you’re suspicious 12 8 15 19 12 11 5 5 Only in an emergency 39 43 36 45 44 30 42 33 Never 39 42 36 29 34 44 40 51  Which of the following would you do for your child?

Many Americans would let their kids cheat at board games, but not help them cheat to get into college.

What ethical transgressions would you be willing to commit to see your child get ahead? Most Americans would not help their kids get away with a lot. Just 3% of Americans say they would provide an alibi for a petty crime they committed, and just 7% would write a college application essay for them. Just one in five would provide a fake sick note to skip school to attend a sporting event, and just half would let their child win at board games.

Which of the following Would You do for Your Child? Yes No Let them win at board games 50% 50 Provide a “sick note” so they can attend a sporting event 21% 79 Write their college application essay for them 7% 93 Provide an alibi for a petty crime 3% 97

 Which one of the following subjects is most appropriate to lie about when talking to young children?

It’s better to lie about Santa Claus than why Mommy and Daddy aren’t talking.

Santa Claus may be the most enduring and culturally acceptable lie when it comes to young children, and most Americans agree it’s the most appropriate thing to lie about to children of a certain age. 55% think Santa Claus is the most appropriate lie, while 20% pick the possibly more serious topic of “why mommy and daddy aren’t talking” as the one that is most appropriate to gloss over with a fib. Americans don’t think God and Death are as appropriate to lie about. Just 8% pick death and just 6% pick God as the topics that are most appropriate to lie about to young children. Which is Most Appropriate to Lie About to young Children? Total Men Women Santa Claus 55% 51% 59% Why Mommy and Daddy aren’t talking 20 21 19 Death 8 10 5 God 6 7 5  Which one of the following cities seems to care the LEAST about its reputation?

Americans think Las Vegas cares less about its reputation than Tehran, Bangkok, or Amsterdam.

When it comes to which city cares the least about its reputation from a list of four, Americans pick Las Vegas first. 36% pick Las Vegas, ahead of four other international cities such as Tehran (22%), Bangkok (17%), and Amsterdam (11%). Liberals are more likely to pick Las Vegas (42%) than either moderates (37%), or conservatives (33%).

Which City Cares the Least about its Reputation? Total Liberal Moderate Conservative Las Vegas 36% 42% 37% 33% Tehran 22 18 23 24 Bangkok 17 19 13 17 Amsterdam 11 10 12 10

 In the express lane at the supermarket, does more than one of the exact same item count as just one item or more than one item?

In the express lane at the supermarket, more than one item means just that.

Most Americans don’t see a loophole when it comes to the “10 items or less” sign at the supermarket. Six in 10 Americans say more than one of the exact same item means just that: more than one item. 17% are a little looser in their definition and say that more than one item of the same thing can be counted as one. One in five take a far more subjective approach and claim it really depends on whether or not they are the ones doing the shopping.

Few Americans regardless of education level take the “multiple items equals one” approach, though Americans with college degrees (69%) are stricter about it than those without a college degree (53%).

In the Express Lane, More than One of the Exact Same Item Counts as… Total No College Degree College Degree Just one item 17% 19% 15% More than one item 58 53 69 Depends on who is shopping 20 22 14  Which one of the following should get top priority when it comes to life-saving organ transplants?

People who are the sickest should get first dibs at new organs, not Dick Cheney.

When it comes to life-saving organ transplants and who gets them, Americans are more likely to think this should be based on need rather than anything else. 45% of Americans think it’s the people who are the sickest that should be at the top of the list for new organs, far ahead of young people who may get more use out of those organs over time(24%), or parents with the responsibility of raising young children (16%). Even fewer think it should be based on merit: just 6% think those organs should go first to people who live healthy lives, while 2% said former Vice President Dick Cheney should top the list.

Americans of all political persuasions think the sickest people should get the priority, though Democrats (52%) are more likely to think so than either Republicans (46%) or independents (40%).

Who Should Get Top Priority for Organ Transplants? Total Reps Dems Inds People who are the sickest 45% 46% 52% 40% Younger people 24 21 26 26 Parents of young children 16 18 11 19 People who live healthy lives 6 4 5 7 Dick Cheney 2 3 1 2 ______This poll was conducted by telephone from June 11-15, 2014 among 1,017 adults nationwide. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Media, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus 3 percentage points. The error for other subgroups may be higher. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll

Ethics

June 11-15, 2014

VF-01. Which one of the following is the biggest ethical misjudgment in American history?

*TOTAL RESPONDENTS* Total Whites Blacks % % % Slavery 38 37 49 The treatment of Native Americans 20 20 17 Vietnam War 13 13 8 The Iraq War 11 10 12 Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki 7 7 9 Don’t know/no answer 11 12 4

VF-02. Do you think Edward Snowden acted ethically or not when he leaked information about a secret government surveillance program?

************ Age *************** Total 18-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ % % % % % % Ethically 27 35 31 24 23 17 Not ethically 54 45 50 57 58 65 Don’t know/no answer 19 20 20 19 19 19

VF-03. Which one of the following is ethically the worst?

********* Income *********** Total <$50K $50K-$100K $100K+ % % % % A doctor who prescribes unnecessary medication to make money 59 61 57 58 A stock broker who defrauds investors 30 27 34 37 A student who cheats on a test 4 5 4 1 A writer who plagiarizes 2 2 3 3 Don’t know/no answer 5 4 3 1

VF-04. Which is worse ethically when it comes to fast food restaurants?

*** Political Party *** Total Reps Dems Inds % % % % Underpaying their workers 48 36 56 48 Serving unhealthy food 47 58 41 47 Don’t know/no answer 5 6 3 5

VF-05. If you found out a family you liked who lived next door were in the U.S. illegally, would you report them or not?

Report them 25 35 22 23 Not report them 69 57 74 71 Don’t know/no answer 6 8 4 7 VF-06. When do you think it’s acceptable to look at a spouse’s emails or texts without their permission?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** Total Men Women % % % Whenever you can get away with it 5 3 6 Whenever you’re suspicious of whom they’re talking to 12 8 15 Only in an emergency 39 43 36 It’s never acceptable 39 42 36 Don’t know/no answer 6 5 7

VF-07. Which of the following would you do for your child? (Multiple responses allowed)

Yes No Let him or her win at board games? 50% 50 Provide a “sick note” to skip school to attend a sporting event? 21% 79 Write their college application essay for them? 7% 93 Provide an alibi for a petty crime they committed? 3% 97

VF-08. Which one of the following subjects is most appropriate to lie about when talking to young children?

Total Men Women % % % Santa Claus 55 51 59 Why Mommy and Daddy aren’t talking 20 21 19 Death 8 10 5 God 6 7 5 Don’t know/no answer 12 12 12

VF-9. In the express lane at the supermarket, does more than one of the exact same item count as:

******** Education ********** Total No Degree College Degree % % % Just one item 17 19 15 More than one item 58 53 69 It depends on whether you’re the one shopping or not 20 22 14 Don’t know/no answer 5 6 2

VF-10. Which one of the following should get top priority when it comes to life-saving organ transplants?

*** Political Party *** Total Reps Dems Inds % % % % People who are the sickest 45 46 52 40 Younger people 24 21 26 26 Parents of young children 16 18 11 19 People who live healthy lives 6 4 5 7 Dick Cheney 2 3 1 2 Don’t know/no answer 7 8 5 7 VF-11. Which one of the following cities seems to care the LEAST about its reputation?

****** Political Affiliation ****** Total Liberal Moderate Conservative % % % % Las Vegas 36 42 37 33 Tehran 22 18 23 24 Bangkok 17 19 13 17 Amsterdam 11 10 12 10 Don’t know/no answer 15 11 14 16

Total Respondents: 1,017