Americans accept terrorist attacks as a fact of life, poll shows A majority of Americans say occasional acts of terrorism are "part of life," and many doubt the government can do much more to prevent them, a new poll finds. About three-quarters of Americans said they agree that "occasional acts of terrorism in the US will be part of life in the future," according to the Pew Research Centre for the People and the Press. The share of Americans who see terrorist acts as "part of life" has stayed high since soon after the September 11, 2001, attacks. But the figure had declined a bit in recent years, with people younger than 30 notably less likely to expect terrorist acts. In the aftermath of the Boston marathon bombings, younger people have joined their elders in saying that some terrorist actions can be expected. The shift among the young has pushed the overall percentage of those who feel that way back to its previous high point. The survey, taken between Thursday and Sunday, shows 60 per cent of Americans say they think the government actions taken since September 11, 2001, have made the country safer; 35 per cent disagree. Those surveyed are split almost evenly on whether there is "much more the government can do." Democrats and Republicans are about equally likely to say that terrorism will be part of the future and also equally split on whether there is much more the government can do about it. Republicans, at 69 per cent, are more likely than either Democrats, 58 per cent, or independents, 59 per cent, to say government actions taken since September 11, 2001, have made the country safer. Although most Americans expect terrorist acts will happen, a small minority say they are "very worried" about the prospect.