In June 1996, Louis Harris published a poll showing that 57 percent of Americans support federal funding for the arts. Despite the fact that the poll is a year old and does not measure attitudes toward the National Endowment for the Arts, the 57 percent figure has popped up repeatedly in news stories about the NEA in recent months. USA Today ran an item on March 26 that read, "Public support for federal arts funding remains strong57 percent and higher -- according to the NEA." Alec Baldwin quoted the poll in his May 13 appearance before Congress to prove that elected officials are systematically ignoring the "majority." Congresswoman Louise Slaughter regurgitated the number in her July testimony before a congressional committee.
On June 28, a Washington Post editorial concluded, from the same old Harris poll, that the NEA has a 57 percent approval rating. The Post might consider that just because the NEA faxed the figure to supporters does not make it reflect the agency's approval rating. So here's a fresher number for you. In March 1997, The Polling Company reported that 57 percent of Americans -- yes, the same number as in the Harris poll -- agree that " Congress should stop funding the NEA with taxpayer dollars and instead leave funding decisions with state government and private groups."
This is not just a case of picking the 57 percent figure you like. The anti- NEA number tracks more honestly with overall public attitudes toward government spending this decade. Even Alec Baldwin should know this.