Voters Blame Trade Deals For Job Losses

Surprised? According to the most recent Gallup Poll, one in four Americans think that jobs is the highest priority problem in America today. It’s almost one in two Americans if you combine concerns for unemployment and the economy. Only 8% of Americans think that the debt or deficit is a high-priority problem (pointed out for the Delaware Congressional delegation, in particular).  Take a look:

This poll (of likely votes!) done by the Alliance for American Manufacturing is the one that shows that Americans get that trade deals lead to job losses:

• 65% see outsourcing as why there is a lack of new manufacturing jobs (70 percent of Democrats, 61 percent of independents and 65 percent of Republicans).
• 60% think the U.S. needs to “get tough” with major trade countries like China (58% of Democrats and Independents, 64% of Republicans).
• 79% blame trade agreements and unfair trade practices, and want better enforcement.
• 84% 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 is strongly supported across the board: 87% Democrats, 82% Independents, 82% Republicans.
• 80% strong “Buy American” policies in government spending, with 67 percent “strongly in favor.”

This poll also shows that voters blame the government for some of this and think that the Government (at all levels) is not doing enough to fix this:

• Respondents want the government to focus on job creation, not deficit reduction, 65% to 31%.
• Respondents who think President Obama is doing “some” or “a great deal” to create manufacturing jobs has fallen from 56% in 2010 to 47% in this poll.
• Respondents who think President Obama is doing “some” or “a great deal” to enforce trade deals fell from 52% to 44%.
• Respondents who think congressional Democrats are doing “some” or “a great deal” to create manufacturing jobs fell from 46% 2010 to 40%.
• Respondents who think Congressional Democrats are doing “some” or “a great deal” on trade enforcement fell from 47% to 38%.
• Respondents who think Congressional Republicans are doing “some” or “a great deal” to create manufacturing jobs fell from 39% in 2010 to 28% now.
• Respondents who think Congressional Republicans are doing “some” or “a great deal” on trade enforcement it fell from 37% to 34%.

I look on this as one more data point showing that Americans are by and large not being represented by the people they send to Washington. Seriously — pick any of our Congressional delegation, look at their recent press releases and are ANY of them working on jobs and economic issues here?