Poll shows increase in patriotism

The poll found that people are now more cautious about what goes on around them.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A majority of Ohioans say they feel more patriotic since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to a statewide poll.
Of those asked by the Ohio Poll, sponsored by the University of Cincinnati, 62 percent said they feel more patriotic. That compares to 1 percent who said they feel less patriotic since terrorists hijacked airplanes crashing them into New York City's World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Another hijacked plane crashed in western Pennsylvania. Thirty-seven percent of the respondents said they feel as patriotic as they did before the attacks.
The poll also showed that 44 percent said the terrorist attacks and the aftermath have changed their way of life.
Twenty-eight percent said they are "more cautious/aware of people and things around me," which was the most significant change cited by those who said the attacks have changed their lives.
Other findings: Also, 9 percent said they were reducing the amount of flying and/or travel they did; 7 percent said they had increased fear of additional attacks; and 6 percent said they had increased their attention of news reports.
The Ohio Poll questioned 826 adults by telephone between Oct. 24 and Nov. 8. The margin of error was 3.4 percent.
Those participating in the poll also were asked about other ways their lives have been changed since the attacks, but no feeling received the level of support that patriotism obtained in the poll.
The poll results show that more women, 49 percent, than men, 38 percent, feel their lives have changed since Sept. 11. Also, 40 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 29 and those 65 years of age and older feel their lives have changed since the attacks compared to 45 percent of those between the ages of 30 and 45, and 49 percent of those between the ages of 46 and 64.
skolnick@vindy.com