POLL: CALIFORNIANS FEAR GOVERNMENT WILL TRAMPLE CIVIL LIBERTIES

SAN FRANCISCO -- Many Californians are concerned government officials will
trample on civil liberties in the fight against terrorism, according to a
new poll.

A survey by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found
that 51 percent of people questioned think the government is more likely to
excessively restrict civil liberties than it is to fail to enact tough
anti-terrorism laws.

Slightly more than a third, 37 percent, are more concerned about the latter
possibility.

The poll, conducted from Dec. 26 to Jan. 10, posed questions to a random
sample of 2,023 people on the social, economic and political forces shaping
the state. It marks the first time since Sept. 11 the institute has probed
Californians' opinions about the anti-terrorism effort and civil liberties.

"Californians by nature are civil libertarians," said Mark Baldassare, a
senior fellow at the institute. "They want the government to play as
limited a role as possible in our daily lives."

Overall, 68 percent of those polled approve of Gov. Gray Davis' handling of
terrorism and security matters.

Nearly two-thirds of those polled said they are unwilling to allow
government agencies to monitor their telephone calls and e-mail on a
regular basis. Slightly more than a third would be willing.

The survey's margin for error was plus or minus 2 percent.