Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults who say that government aid to the poor does more good than harm by state (2014) Switch to: State among adults who say that government aid to the poor does more good than harm by sources of guidance on right and wrong

% of adults who say that government aid to the poor does more good than harm who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong

StateReligionPhilosophy/reasonCommon senseScienceDon't knowSample size
Alabama49%4%41%6%1%214
Alaska20%8%50%17%5%150
Arizona27%13%48%9%4%287
Arkansas45%7%40%8%< 1%138
California25%16%42%14%2%2,042
Colorado21%19%45%12%3%250
Connecticut21%18%48%12%1%210
Delaware27%11%50%10%2%160
District of Columbia25%17%40%14%4%227
Florida29%12%47%10%2%952
Georgia41%10%37%10%2%449
Hawaii22%13%53%9%4%171
Idaho25%10%51%12%2%148
Illinois24%15%47%13%1%687
Indiana31%13%42%11%3%269
Iowa35%13%45%6%1%156
Kansas25%15%50%9%1%136
Kentucky37%13%37%10%2%183
Louisiana37%12%44%6%1%197
Maine15%17%52%15%1%160
Maryland30%10%45%14%1%357
Massachusetts12%11%56%18%2%419
Michigan28%9%50%11%3%494
Minnesota21%15%49%12%4%303
Mississippi45%9%37%8%1%132
Missouri29%13%45%8%6%300
Montana17%17%50%15%1%130
Nebraska23%16%47%12%2%146
Nevada21%14%52%12%1%155
New Hampshire15%16%55%12%2%175
New Jersey27%12%49%10%2%470
New Mexico32%13%39%10%6%161
New York23%18%46%11%2%1,083
North Carolina37%12%40%10%1%509
North Dakota27%8%44%17%4%137
Ohio30%11%49%9%2%543
Oklahoma31%10%47%10%2%174
Oregon25%15%42%17%2%242
Pennsylvania28%12%45%13%1%631
Rhode Island27%13%49%7%4%173
South Carolina36%11%43%7%3%234
South Dakota31%9%47%10%2%129
Tennessee41%9%42%5%2%282
Texas37%12%39%10%2%1,137
Utah32%10%48%9%1%141
Vermont12%18%55%15%< 1%189
Virginia33%16%39%9%3%412
Washington22%17%45%14%3%400
West Virginia48%6%41%3%2%145
Wisconsin23%16%45%14%3%275
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: Religion, Philosophy/reason, Common sense, Science