Poll of Public on Tax Day Shows Support for
Budget Priority on Star Students Instead of Star Wars

The Coalition for Peace Action today (4/15/02) released the results of its "penny poll" taken of residents of central New Jersey in conjunction with tax day, April 16. The poll was taken in front of the Princeton Post Offices at Palmer Square and in Carnegie Center on April 16, and at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton on April 15.

All persons at these sites were invited to express their opinion on how their federal tax dollar should be spent. Those agreeing to participate were given ten pennies and asked to place them in tubes corresponding to five categories of federal government spending according to how they would like their federal tax dollar to be used: Star Wars/military, education, health care, environment, and housing.

Some 219 people of all ages participated. The results were as follows:
Education--674 (31%)
Health Care--543 (25%)
Environment--500 (23%)
Housing--354 (16%)
Military/Star Wars--42 (2%)

After completing the poll, participants were handed a fact sheet produced by the Coalition for Peace Action. It showed that in sharp contrast to the priorities most had expressed, that of the $4,695 paid by the median income household in New Jersey:
$1,362 goes for military purposes (29%)
$793 goes for health care (17%)
$117 goes for education (3%)
$107 goes for housing (2%)
$85 goes for environment (2%)

"It is striking that when taxpayers are asked their opinion, most want exactly the opposite priorities currently reflected in the federal budget. The people clearly want to prioritize Star Students, not Star Wars, with their federal tax dollar. In a democracy, it is incumbent on our elected officials to reflect these priorities," said the Rev. Robert Moore, Executive Director of the Coalition.