Other

Today, more than a half of respondents (56 %) express satisfaction with their personal life, 29 % are "neither satisfied nor dissatisfied" and with 14 % dissatisfaction dominates. In the last five years these figures have changed only minimally. The survey also focused on prevalence of optimism and scepticism from the point of view of the respondents’ own future, and future of those close to them, the future of the population of the CZ and mankind as such.

In its regular March survey, the Public Opinion Research Centre concentrated among other things on the opinions of citizens regarding the length of sentences for some selected criminal acts, moreover on views about at which degree sentences imposed by courts are adequate and last but not least the question of if capital punishment should exist or not. We consider sentences imposed by court to be more likely inadequate, particularly in the case of violent criminal activities.

What is the picture of crime structure in the eyes of the Czech public? Does it correspond to reality, or is it distorted by the influence of media news or personal experience? And what is the notion of the success rate of the police when investigating some criminal acts? Is it rather underestimated or on the contrary overestimated by the public? These are some of the issues dealt with by the March survey, carried out by Public Opinion Research Centre.

Currently, 38% of respondents are satisfied and 21 % dissatisfied with the way the police look after the order and safety of citizens in their neighbourhood. Another 38% are “neither satisfied, nor dissatisfied” with the activities of the police. Moreover, the research concentrated on how safe citizens felt in their neighbourhoods and inside their homes. The performed survey has shown that the feeling of safety in one’s own home has changed only relatively little in the course of the last five years: most citizens feel safe during the day, even after dark; however the feeling grows weaker after dusk.

The survey results reveal that we derive most pleasure from being given a present. This is followed by an afternoon’s relaxation with a cup of good coffee or tea, and by an evening spent in front of a TV. In general, we consider waiting for a late bus more annoying than getting up in the morning. The latter is, however, resented by younger generations in particular. Organisations conducting surveys of public opinion will be pleased to learn that we consider answering survey questions considerably less irritating than waiting for a late bus or getting up in the morning.

The March survey touched on the problem of tolerance in society, the understanding, which is shown to various specific social groups. Respondents were asked to choose which of such groups they would not want to have as neighbours. From their response it became obvious that people have the most reserved attitude towards the worst-form of alcoholics (86 %) and drug users (85 %). Citizens of Romany origin are often (79 %) rejected as well as people with a criminal past (78 %).

If now people in the Czech Republic had a chance to choose any country, in which they would like to live, the majority would select the Czech Republic. The prevailing mother tongue in the territory of the Czech Republic is Czech language; other languages mentioned in the survey did not exceed the level of a statistical error. Apart from Czech, which is used for communicating in the household by almost everybody, German, English and Slovak are most frequently used as a common language.

Coexistence of Romanies and the rest of the population is perceived by a large part of the public as being problematic. While in general, relations between people at the place, where they live, were described as bad only by 16.4 % of respondents, in the case of coexistence of Romanies and other citizens in their neighbourhoods critical opinions were voiced by a half (50.5 %) of respondents of those that before had said that in the vicinity of the place, where they lived, there were some Romanies living.

From the nationalities living in this country, we have the best relations with citizens of the Czech nationality and Slovaks. Czechs also find likeable Poles and Germans. On the other hand, we think that citizens from the former USSR and Balkan states are least likeable, and our worst relation is with Romanies. When evaluating our relations with nationalities in general, first place was occupied by Czechs and Slovaks, after them French, Swedes, English and Poles.

Liberal answers prevailed for questions relating to marriage and partnership, on the other hand the last statements relating to parenthood and bringing up children were answered with conservative opinions. The most controversial question was the one asking for the opinion on justification of an abortion, if there is a risk to the health of the woman or the child. On this issue, respondents equally split into same-sized opposing groups.