New poll: Voters concerned about loss of manufacturing jobs in U.S.
Loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs outweighs voters’ concerns on health care costs, terrorism, immigration
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new bipartisan poll, conducted by Mark Mellman and Whit Ayres, shows that going into the 2010 election cycle, both Democrats and Republicans face a deeply unhappy electorate who are unified in their concern over the loss of American manufacturing jobs and the lack of work being done on the issue by Congress. When asked about prospective economic solutions, pro-manufacturing policies won overwhelming support across demographics including non-union households, independents, union households and Tea Party supporters. The responses in the poll echo a June 21, 2010 article in the Financial Times, which quotes a projection that in 2011 the United States will lose its status as top nation in factory production to China, “thus ending a 110-year run as the No. 1 country.”
“This is a blunt message for Washington,” said Scott Paul, executive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM). “A majority of likely voters say the U.S. no longer has the world’s strongest economy, and that Washington isn’t doing enough to promote manufacturing despite the contributions this sector makes to America’s economic security, our independence and our ability to stay ahead of global competition.”
In the poll of 1,000 likely general election voters, “We have lost too many manufacturing jobs,” is the top concern among independents and working class voters, even compared to government debt, loss of life in Iraq and Afghanistan, the high cost of health care, illegal immigration or terrorism.
Other highlights of the poll include:
• A majority believe the U.S. no longer has the world’s strongest economy — a title they want to regain.
• Voters are anxious about the economy — specifically China debt, spending and loss of manufacturing.
• Eighty-six percent of voters want Washington to focus on manufacturing, and 63 percent feel working people who make things are being forgotten while Wall Street and banks get bailouts.
• Two-thirds of voters believe manufacturing is central to our economic strength, and 57 percent believe manufacturing is more central to our economic strength than high-tech, knowledge or financial service sectors.
• Across all demographics, voters’ economic solutions center on trade enforcement, clean energy, tax credits for U.S. manufacturing and replacing aging infrastructure using American materials, a surprising overlap between Tea Party supporters, independents, non-union households and union households.
The Alliance for American Manufacturing is a unique non-partisan, non-profit partnership forged to strengthen manufacturing in the U.S. AAM brings together a select group of America’s leading manufacturers and the United States Steelworkers. Their mission is to promote creative policy solutions on priorities such as international trade, energy security, health care, retirement security, currency manipulation and other issues of mutual concern.
