Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults who would rather have a smaller government with fewer services by state (2014) Switch to: State among adults who would rather have a smaller government with fewer services by belief in existence of standards for right and wrong

% of adults who would rather have a smaller government with fewer services who say…

StateThere are clear standards for what is right and wrongRight or wrong depends on the situationNeither/both equallyDon't knowSample size
Alabama50%48%2%1%314
Alaska52%46%1%1%183
Arizona44%50%2%4%410
Arkansas52%47%< 1%< 1%172
California37%60%2%1%1,784
Colorado48%47%1%4%278
Connecticut40%58%1%< 1%196
Delaware35%65%< 1%< 1%146
Florida41%57%2%1%1,035
Georgia49%49%2%< 1%528
Hawaii32%67%< 1%< 1%160
Idaho51%48%< 1%< 1%209
Illinois36%61%1%1%721
Indiana46%52%2%1%383
Iowa39%60%1%< 1%201
Kansas43%57%< 1%< 1%204
Kentucky48%51%1%1%245
Louisiana48%48%2%2%262
Maine36%61%3%< 1%180
Maryland38%59%1%1%298
Massachusetts33%66%1%< 1%325
Michigan44%54%1%1%545
Minnesota39%60%1%< 1%331
Mississippi49%50%< 1%< 1%178
Missouri43%56%< 1%< 1%402
Montana50%48%1%1%215
Nebraska47%53%< 1%1%202
Nevada38%60%< 1%1%194
New Hampshire37%61%2%< 1%180
New Jersey35%63%1%1%437
New Mexico47%48%5%1%153
New York33%65%1%1%882
North Carolina49%49%1%1%559
North Dakota43%57%< 1%< 1%233
Ohio43%56%1%< 1%682
Oklahoma40%56%3%1%240
Oregon43%55%1%1%228
Pennsylvania42%56%1%< 1%793
Rhode Island32%64%2%2%155
South Carolina47%50%2%1%271
South Dakota45%55%< 1%< 1%212
Tennessee52%46%2%< 1%407
Texas43%54%2%1%1,330
Utah47%51%2%< 1%222
Vermont35%62%2%1%143
Virginia49%49%1%2%516
Washington45%54%1%< 1%386
West Virginia50%45%3%2%188
Wisconsin38%60%1%1%369
Wyoming45%54%1%1%230
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: There are clear standards for what is right and wrong, Right or wrong depends on the situation