Federal regulators, under orders from Congress and the courts to figure ways to measure losses to people not directly affected by environmental problems, are turning to public-opinion surveys.

Blacks have indeed shared those patriotic feelings, at least as far as public-opinion surveys can measure.

Of course, the results of these or any other public-opinion surveys do not alter the underlying reality.

President Clinton, whose Administration and party stand at the center of the furor, has lost little of his popularity in recent weeks, according to public-opinion surveys.

Some answers are provided by public-opinion surveys from the respective countries.

But most public-opinion surveys report few major differences in how blacks and whites describe their feelings about their country.

Meanwhile, a public-opinion survey in the lead-up to the May 2003 local government elections caused the council to rethink its support of the new plan.

Broder's information was based on a public-opinion survey, the results of which he said had "flabbergasted the people who took the survey.

Citing public-opinion surveys, she said that whereas Americans were inclined to blame big government for their problems eight years ago, they blame big business today.

A close vote had been expected, even though public-opinion surveys have repeatedly found that a majority of voters oppose it.