LSU Survey Results
HIGHWAYS AND INFRASTRUCTURES
Before the program, just over 57% of the studio audience felt spending on roads should stay the same or increase. But after hearing from each other and the panel, nearly 93% came to that conclusion. The number who thought road spending should decrease fell by two thirds, from nearly 29% to just over 7%. (charts)
- There was greater negativity about the effectiveness of hurricane evacuation. In the Pre-survey, 35.7% thought evacuation plans were "not very" or "not at all" effective. In the Post-survey, 57.1% felt that way.
- On the question of whether or not the government is listens to its citizens, in the Pre-survey, just over 14% thought government paid "a good deal" of attention. In the Post-survey, that percentage jumped to nearly 43%.
- As in past surveys, more people were willing to stake out a position on various questions after discussing the issues with their peers. Eight survey questions had some "Don't Know" responses. Five of the eight questions had fewer "Don't Know" responses in the Post-survey than in the Pre-survey. In three of the these questions, the "Don't Knows" went to zero.
Q1. How would you rate the quality of roads in Louisiana compared to other states in the southeast region?
% Before % After Better 7.10% 7.10% About the Same 21.40% 21.40% Worse 50.00% 50.00% Much Worse 21.40% 21.40% Q2. If it were up to you, would you increase spending on roads & highways, decrease spending, or keep spending about the same?
% Before % After Don't Know 14.30% 0.00% Decrease Spending 28.60% 7.10% Increase Spending 28.60% 42.90% Keep the Same 28.60% 50.00% Q3. How important would you say that roads, ports, airports, and rail systems are to the Louisiana economy?
% Before % After Very important 92.90% 85.70% Somewhat important 7.10% 14.30% Q4. When it comes to spending taxpayer money on roads & highways, do you think state government spends money wisely?
% Before % After Don't Know 21.40% 35.70% Yes 28.60% 21.40% No 50.00% 42.90% Q5. When setting priorities for how money is spent on roads & highways in Louisiana, would you say:
% Before % After Don't Know 7.10% 0.00% Politics 57.10% 57.10% Need 35.70% 28.60% Neither/Both 0.00% 14.30% Q6. How would you rate state hurricane evacuation plans during this evacuation?
% Before % After Don't Know 7.10% 0.00% Very Effective 21.40% 28.60% Somewhat Effective 35.70% 14.30% Not Very Effective 28.60% 35.70% Not At All Effective 7.10% 21.40% Q7. Would you support or oppose the building of a toll road around the Greater Baton Rouge Area as part of an effort to reduce traffic congestion?
% Before % After Don't Know 21.40% 28.60% Support 57.10% 64.30% Oppose 21.40% 7.10% Q8. Would you support an increase in gasoline taxes if any additional revenue went to improving Louisiana's roads and highways?
% Before % After Don't Know 7.10% 14.30% Support 7.10% 21.40% Oppose 85.70% 64.30% Q9. Which of the following statements most closely matches your view concerning what priorities of state government should be?
% Before % After Spend on Current Needs 35.70% 38.50% Investment in Future 50.00% 53.80% Neither/Don't Know 14.30% 7.70% Q10. Would you say the government is pretty much run by a few big interests looking out for themselves or that it is run for the benefit of all the people?
% Before % After Don't Know 7.10% 0.00% Few Big Interests 57.10% 41.70% Benefit of All 35.70% 58.30% Q11. How much attention do you feel the government pays to what the people think when it decides what to do?
% Before % After Good Deal 14.30% 42.90% Some 50.00% 42.90% Not Much 35.70% 14.30% Q12. Discussions - even those that involve serious disagreements - should be an important part of the political processes.
% Before % After Strongly Agree 64.30% 64.30% Agree 35.70% 28.60% Neither Agree nor Disagree 0.00% 7.10% Q13. Democracy requires hearing from all sides of a political issue, even those with unpopular views.
% Before % After Strongly Agree 71.40% 85.70% Agree 21.40% 14.30% Disagree 7.10% 0.00%
Some questions and comments may be included in the program.
