Other forms: public opinions
The way most ordinary people feel about something, or the thing they mainly believe, is public opinion. If public opinion supports a no smoking policy, you better put down that cigar.
Politicians car a lot about public opinion — it's what gets them elected, or ultimately leads to their losing their jobs. Brave legislators and public figures will say what they really believe, rather than what they thing will please public opinion, but that's rare. The term was coined by John Locke in a 1600s essay he wrote about politics and human understanding, inspired by the French l'opinion, "opinion."