CHAPTER 9 ~ OPINION POLLS ~ (Updated 5/27/08)

Wall Street Journal/ NBC News poll of October, 1992 those with an opinion on NAFTA opposed it by 2-1 (Almost 40% had no opinion.) (Wall Street Journal (12/23/92)).

Wall Street Journal/NBC News Poll of 12/02/99: In general, do you think that free trade agreements between the US and foreign countries have helped the US, hurt the US, or haven't made much difference (NMD)?

Income Level

Hurt

NMD

Helped

Under $20,000

54%

26%

17%

All adults

32

24

35

Over $50,000/ year

25

24

41

In a poll of likely Republican voters, 32% said that foreign trade is good for the US economy, while 59% said that foreign trade is bad for the US Economy - reflecting a substantial shift from 8 years ago and a steady erosion in Republican support for free trade. In a December 1999 WSJ/ NBC poll, 37% of Republicans said trade deals have helped the US and 31% said they had hurt, while 26% said they made no difference (07H2).

In a March 2007 WSJ/ NBC poll before the recent scandal involving tainted imports, 54% of Democratic voters said free trade agreements have hurt the U.S., while 21% said they have helped (07H2).

A telephone survey of 800 voters during June, 1996, accompanied by 6 focus groups, revealed that Americans of all ages, all incomes, all races, and both political parties are angry with the way large corporations have been treating their workers in recent years. Specifically, voters are angry over:

Survey and focus groups conducted by EDK Associates and Peter D. Hart Research working under contract to the Preamble Center for Public Policy in Washington DC.

Wall Street Journal Poll, 7/31/97 61% of US citizens opposed giving President Clinton "fast-track" authority to negotiate free-trade agreements (vs.32% in favor).

Pew Research Center poll, 9/97 77% of Americans believe that protecting American jobs should be the nation's top foreign policy priority (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (10/10/97)).

Wall Street Journal/NBC Poll, (12/10/98)

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