49% - Say Military Strength Ensures Peace?

Question

49% - Say Military Strength Ensures Peace

Only about half of Americans (49%) now say they think that maintaining military strength is the best way to ensure peace – the lowest percentage in the 20- year history of Pew values surveys and down sharply from the 62% who said so in the summer of 2002, less than a year after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. While the partisan divide on this principle is large, it is not much bigger than it was four years ago. The percentage of Republicans subscribing to this view has fluctuated only modestly in recent years; currently, 72% of Republicans agree that the best way to ensure peace is through military strength, a level largely unchanged from 2002 and 2003 (72% and 69%, respectively). By contrast, just 40% of Democrats believe that military strength best ensures peace, down a bit from 2003 (44%). In 2002, a solid majority of Democrats (55%) said that peace is best ensured through military strength. Opinion among independents has followed a track similar to that of the Democrats. Currently, 46% of independents agree that the best way to ensure peace is through military strength, compared with 51% four years ago and 62% in 2002. There also has been a substantial shift on this issue among self-described moderates – regardless of party. Currently, 43% of moderates say that military strength is the best way to guarantee peace, down 12 points from 2003 (55%).
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Answer 1

So long as no one has come up with an ingenious plan to keep every country from following their own best interests, or to keep religious nuts from wanting to kill anyone who doesn't share their faith, a strong military and the wisdom, and courage to use it, is our best hope for the future.
But, it's sad to see that the Jane Fonda crowd has left us another batch of Ostriches, with their tail-feathers between their legs, trying to protect the place where their testicles used to be.

Answer 2

Just having "military strength" cannot ensure peace. Its how that strength is used. When you "cut and run" every time you get in a scrap with a small and insignificant enemy-your "perceived" strength is seen as being weak. When you send in the military-let them run. Destroy your enemy to the point where no one will want to mess with you again. Oh - and don't trust any numbers on any polls. All politicians watch those numbers and follow them to keep their jobs. Our leaders are followers-just like sheep! We need sheep dogs leading the flock! Not sheep leading the sheep!

Answer 3

I'm curious what the other 51% thought the best way was? Probably a variety of things. Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Free Trade, Isolationism, Prayer, Paying Tribute...

Answer 4

Not true. The US has the world's strongest military yet it is constantly fighting wars.

So much for you and your theory.

Hint: Look up "Military Industrial Complex" and concentrate on trying to wrap your little brain around the concept. What will explain why your theory is no longer true.

Answer 5

62% of Choosy mothers chose Jif......
and now 56% of those polled world wide view the US as the greatest threat to world peace. Beyond your obvious poor grasp of reality what is the point that your are trying to make.

News flash: war does not make peace, peace makes peace and war makes war...see how that works.

if you threaten others they will not like you, bullies are not well liked.

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.
Thomas Jefferson

Answer 6

If the federal government gave me a choice to choose where my 'voluntary' tax dollars go.. I'd pick national security in a heartbeat.

We are 'progressively' becoming a nation that will end up with no strength. Thank you PC.

Answer 7

Peace Through Superior Fire Power

That's what the bumper sticket on my Ford Excursion says!

Answer 8

As a moderate I would say military strength is just one aspect of it. Just as important is good foreign policy (granted sometimes a strong military is needed to enforce that policy).

Answer 9

This day and age, the military is not what it used to be. We are having to handle more domestic safety concerns with terrorists, gangs, and other crimes. Aside from dealing with overseas terrorists, our military is not trained to police its own people.

Answer 10

you really do not need any pew statistics when your dealing with nitwits.check out history,power/military rules !this crap is really scary.when have we started to live by idiotic poles?