Paid for by NDN.
Americans unhappy with economy, looking for strong leadership from Washington
by NDN
November 6, 2007
NDN’s new comprehensive poll of American attitudes about the economy released this week makes it clear that that the American people are looking for a new economic strategy that makes globalization work for all Americans. Americans see strengths in our economy and recognize that globalization is here to stay, but are personally feeling the weakness of the economy and see the government as unresponsive and lacking a plan to grow the economy.
The poll shows that voters are pessimistic about the direction of the country, their leaders, the economy and globalization. Two-thirds of Americans give the economy a negative rating, in sharp contrast to the positive ratings the economy garnered from voters in the late 1990’s. Eight out of ten Americans believe the economy is stagnant or worsening – again, a significant departure from public opinion in the late 1990’s.
These findings are consistent with the economic data that affect people's lives on a day to day basis. Although we have seen growth in GDP and the stock market has been generally strong, these macroeconomic gains have not translated into economic gains for average people. Since George Bush took office, the median household income has fallen by over $1,600. Real wages have been stagnant. The American people are feeling the pinch and have heard virtually nothing out of the current Administration. This isn’t new – in fact, the exit polls from the 2006 midterm elections suggests that the economy drove the Democratic takeover of Congress more than Iraq or corruption.
However, the American people remain remarkably pragmatic and solution-oriented. Americans believe that our country’s biggest economic strength is our ability to innovate and create new ideas, another opinion validated by economic reality. A majority of voters, and an even larger majority of swing voters, believe that we must acknowledge that globalization is here to stay and create an economic strategy for success, rather than simply softening the impact of globalization.
And as they look ahead, Americans cite the following as critical elements to any future economic strategy: create jobs through investment in alternative energy, making health care more affordable, reducing the deficit (though when asked to choose between making investments in health care and education versus the deficit, a strong majority chooses investment), protecting American ideas and innovation from theft, and increasing the availability of vocational and skills training. All of these items fit nicely into the NDN economic agenda: invest more heavily in the skills and training of the American workforce and infrastructure; promote new business development, innovation and the ideas-based economy; and reform health care and energy policies to reduce the pressure of businesses that is strangling wage and job growth.
For more information, please:
- Click here to download the PowerPoint presentation of the poll's findings
- Click here to download the first poll memo
- Click here to download the second poll memo
- 2006 exit poll memo: Voters deliver a mandate for a new economic strategy
- The New Landscape of Globalization: How America Can Reap Its Rewards and Reduce Its Costs
(by Dr. Robert Shapiro, Chair of NDN's Globalization Initiative)
