Poll: Voters Blame Trade Agreements For Job Losses
http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/dave-johnson/54326/poll-voters-blame-trade-agreements-for-job-losses
Poll: Voters Blame Trade Agreements For Job Losses
Economic Policy | Trade
by Dave Johnson | February 20, 2014 - 9:00am
The public gets it that one-sided trade agreements are shipping jobs out of the country and they want our government to do something about it.
A new Gallup poll shows that jobs and unemployment has risen to the No. 1 spot on the countrys most important problem list. At the same time another poll, this one of likely voters, confirms this and drills down to find that voters overwhelmingly see unfair trade agreements and outsourcing as a main cause of our job problem.
The poll of likely voters, commissioned by the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), agreed with Gallup that job concerns are at the top of voters agendas. But this poll drills down and shows that manufacturing and the jobs it creates are seen as the most critical component of our economy.
Among the polls findings:
* 65 percent of voters consider outsourcing as the reason for a lack of new manufacturing jobs (70 percent of Democrats, 61 percent of independents and 65 percent of Republicans). Only 28 percent of voters cite a potential shortage of skilled workers for the lack of new manufacturing jobs in the U.S., and only 25 percent say it is too expensive to manufacture in America.
* 60 percent of voters say the U.S. needs to get tough with countries like China (58 percent of Democrats and independents, 64 percent of Republicans).
* 79 percent of voters blame trade agreements and unfair trade, and want enforcement, including 76-77 percent of GOP voters.
* 84 percent of voters support a national manufacturing strategy to make sure that economic, tax, education and trade policies in this country work together to help support manufacturing. This includes 87 percent of Democrats, 82 percent of independents, and 82 percent of Republicans.
* 80 percent of voters want strong Buy American policies in government spending, with 67 percent strongly in favor.