60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll: December Edition

As 2010 winds down, Americans can look back on a challenging year that began with slow progress on the economy, and ended with dynamism and change in Washington. As we approach 2011 and the new possibilities that it offers to us both as individuals and as a nation, let's take stock of what needs to be done and then take action. December is known for the magic of Christmas and a chance for change and improvement. While reading our 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll, remember Irving Berlin wrote "White Christmas" while celebrating Hanukkah.

Over 70 percent of Americans say "Merry Christmas" to express the sentiments of the season, while 23 percent use the more generic "Happy Holidays." Who can be offended by a sincere expression of peace and hope delivered with a smile? Maybe the four percent of Scrooges who said, "Bah Humbug."

Woody Allen noted that just because you're paranoid doesn't mean someone's not following you. Thirty three percent think that Google and Yahoo may have too much of their personal information. Only 14 percent think the U.S. government knows too much, while 13 percent think banks and credit agencies are too nosy. Only three percent think their neighbors may be watching and the final 33 percent of Americans don't worry much about Big Brother watching them.

Seventy two percent of Americans (the well adjusted ones) don't think their lives would make a good reality show. But 26 percent think their lives could be portrayed on one. Really? The ironic part about reality shows is, what part of the show is real?

This question is great for sparking intergenerational debate around the dinner table while discussing our favorite artists. And the winner is: The Fab Four from Liverpool with 22 percent (33 percent of Baby Boomers). Next was MJ with 20 percent (31 percent of the coveted 18-29 demographic). Sinatra still matters with 18 percent (a whopping 43 percent of the over 65 set). Mozart got 14 percent (his contemporaries can no longer vote) and Houdini couldn't escape last place with nine percent.

Only three percent of Americans admit to being a bully in school while 16 percent say they were bullied. That means not everyone admitted the truth or that the bullies were busy bullying lots of kids. Forty percent claimed they were peacemakers and the other 39 percent said they were none of the above.

Hurray for Hollywood, the land of wretched excess and the Glitterati: 26 percent of Americans would sell the iconic Hollywood sign to the highest foreign bidder. Next is Elvis' Graceland with 18 percent, our nation's capital with 14 percent (anybody for tea?), and Disney World with 12 percent. It seems people really do remember The Alamo, only six percent would desert the fort.

Even for a hypothetical question, this one is pretty touchy. The only celebrity couple getting much respect was Jada Pinkett Smith and her husband Will with 25 percent. Otherwise, 44 percent of Americans would prefer to see their children raised by a nice couple from Iowa. It worked out for Clark Kent - he turned out quite well.

Thirty three percent of Americans like life in the fast lane (without a slow driver in front of them). Twenty five percent say cell phones in restaurants make them lose their appetites; 24 percent feel that people who expectorate in public are all wet ( better not watch baseball). Only nine percent are down on poor elevator behavior and five percent don't seem to want to laugh out loud.

Forty two percent of Americans live in a house with a gun inside of it and 55 percent do not. Only a third of the people living near the Northeast or West Coasts reside in homes with guns, whereas 53 percent of Southerners live in a home containing a firearm. Americans, the Supreme Court and the NRA have spoken, they want gun rights protected. When is the last time this came up for debate in Washington?

It appears that the "Family of Man" is becoming more open minded about interracial relationships. Where could a better sampling of opinion be obtained than from America's multiethnic melting pot? Seventy eight percent of Americans feel that most of their family members would not care if they fell in love with someone from another race as long as they were happy; 16 percent feel that their families would object. Good news for you Romeos out there with better prospects than ever of finding your Juliet (or vice versa). Happy hunting.

Read more about this poll and the results.