Voters continue to feel that free enterprise is a significant contributor to various aspects of the American economy.

Transcription

1 Methodology Lombardo Consulting Group recently completed a national telephone survey with 800 registered voters on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The survey field dates were July 6-8, The margin of error for this survey is 3.46%. Free Enterprise Findings When presented with a list of ideas including free enterprise, free market competition, free and fair trade, capitalism and socialism voters remain especially favorable toward the concepts of free enterprise and free market competition. o More than half of all voters (53%) have a very positive impression of free enterprise (fully 78% of voters are either very positive or somewhat positive toward the idea), while more than four in ten voters (46%) have a very positive impression of free market competition (in total, 71% of voters are either very positive or somewhat positive toward the idea). o Voters are also favorably inclined toward the ideas of capitalism (36% very positive ) and free and fair trade (36% very positive ). o Socialism, however, is viewed very positively by just three percent of voters, while more than four in ten voters (43%) have a very negative view of the concept. Voters continue to feel that free enterprise is a significant contributor to various aspects of the American economy. Size of Government o Using a one-to-five scale, voters were asked to describe how much free enterprise contributes to ideas like making America competitive again and American jobs and economic growth (with respect to the scale, a five meant free enterprise contributes an enormous amount and a one meant free enterprise contributes nothing at all ). o In all cases, voters responded with either a four or a five a majority of the time. o Making America competitive in the global economy (73% of voters gave this phrase a four or a five on the one-to-five scale), American jobs and economic growth (66% responded with a four or five) and Making the United States special (66% responded with a four or five) received the highest scores on the one-to-five scale. Voters are extremely concerned about the current size and role of the U.S. government. Job Creation o Nearly eight in ten (78%) voters say that they are either very or somewhat concerned about the growth in the size and power of the U.S. federal government over the past few years. o In addition, approximately half (51%) of all voters agree that the government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals. Voters remain deeply concerned about the state of the U.S. job market and its prospects for recovery. Lombardo Consulting Group/U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Survey () Page 1

2 o A plurality of voters (45%) thinks that the situation for people looking for jobs in the U.S. will stay about the same over the next six months, while 32% think the situation will get worse. Just one in five voters (20%) thinks that the job situation will get better over the next six months. As in the March survey, voters feel that small businesses will be responsible for creating the most jobs over the next few years. o More than half (51%) of all voters identified small businesses as the primary engine of U.S. job growth (compared to 49% in March), followed by big businesses (17%), entrepreneurs (16%) and the federal government (12%). Voters identify three principal threats to job creation over the next two years: chronically high budget deficits, expansion of the government s role in the economy and higher taxes. o Voters are equally divided with respect to identifying the greatest threats to job creation: 24% think that chronically high budget deficits will be the principal threat to job creation over the next two years, 24% feel that expansion of the government s role in the economy will be the primary issue and 22% think that higher taxes will be the primary threat to job creation. o Thirteen percent identify trade barriers or tariffs as the greatest threat to job creation and six percent say that limits on carbon emissions to combat global warming is the greatest threat to job creation. Voters are also concerned about the national debt and its impact on job creation. o Nearly six in ten (58%) voters are very concerned that chronically high budget deficits will have a negative impact on job creation. An additional 25% of voters are somewhat concerned about the issue. Most do not think that the recent health care reform legislation will result in the creation of more jobs in the U.S. o Fewer than three in ten (29%) voters think that the health care reform legislation will result in more jobs in the U.S.; fully 61% feel that the legislation will not result in more jobs. o Half of the voters were asked the question in a different way, and the legislation was described as having been passed in March by this administration and Congressional Democrats When asked the question using this language, there was only a slight change in the outcome: 34% of voters felt that the legislation would result in more jobs in the U.S. when the question was asked in this way. Slightly more than half (54%) of voters feel that labor unions have a negative impact on job creation in the U.S. o While 31% of voters feel that labor unions have a positive impact on job creation in the U.S., most (54%) feel that labor unions have a negative impact (and 28% of voters feel that way strongly ). Administration Policies Across the board, voters feel that this administration s policies are not having a positive impact on the country s economic situation. Lombardo Consulting Group/U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Survey () Page 2

3 o A plurality of voters (43%) thinks that this administration s policies are making the economy worse, while 30% feel that this administration s policies are having no real effect. Just 23% believe that this administration s policies are making the economy better. o Similarly, 39% of voters think that this administration s policies will result in fewer jobs in the U.S., compared with 30% who believe that this administration s policies will result in more jobs (27% believe that this administration s policies will have no effect on the U.S. job situation). o More than six in ten (62%) voters feel that this administration does not have a clear plan for creating jobs. o Most voters (51%) are not confident that this administration s economic team will be able to solve the financial crisis and fix the problems that caused it. An additional 26% of voters are just somewhat confident in this administration s economic team s capabilities. Just 23% of voters are either very or fairly confident that this administration s economic team can solve the current financial crisis and fix the problems that caused it. Most voters (60%) agree that this administration s new rules and regulations are expanding the size of government far too much, resulting in a weaker U.S. economy and fewer jobs. Budget Deficit o Forty-two percent of voters strongly agree with this sentiment. o Just 37% of voters disagree with the above statement. In order to improve the economy, voters agree that this administration should focus on deficit reduction rather than increasing spending. o Fifty-nine percent of voters agree that the more important priority for this administration should be reducing the deficit, even if it might slow down our economic recovery. Just 33% think that the administration should be stimulating economic recovery through more spending. o Similarly, six in ten (60%) voters think that the federal government should improve the U.S. economy by spending less money and focusing on reducing the deficit. Thirty-six percent of voters feel that the federal government should be spending more money in order to improve the economy. Lombardo Consulting Group/U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Survey () Page 3

4 U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Telephone Survey Question Results U.S. Registered Voters Ages 18+ (n=800) Field Dates: July 6-8, 2010 Here are some ideas. Please tell me whether your general feelings toward each are very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative? Q1. Free enterprise Wave I Very positive 53% 54% Somewhat positive Neutral Somewhat negative 3 3 Very negative 1 1 Don t know (VOL) Positive 78% 79% Neutral Negative 4 4 Don t know/refused 2 2 Q2. Free market competition Wave I Very positive 46% 46% Somewhat positive Neutral Somewhat negative 6 6 Very negative 2 2 Don t know (VOL) Positive 71% 72% Neutral Negative 8 8 Don t know/refused 5 5 Lombardo Consulting Group/U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Survey () Page 4

5 Q3. Free and fair trade Wave I Very positive 36% 40% Somewhat positive Neutral Somewhat negative 5 5 Very negative 3 3 Don t know (VOL) 6 5 Refused (VOL) 1 1 Positive 65% 70% Neutral Negative 8 8 Don t know/refused 7 6 Q4. Capitalism Wave I Very positive 36% 36% Somewhat positive Neutral Somewhat negative 12 9 Very negative 7 10 Don t know (VOL) 4 5 * Positive 57% 56% Neutral Negative Don t know/refused 4 5 Q5. Socialism Wave I Very positive 3% 7% Somewhat positive Neutral Somewhat negative Very negative Don t know (VOL) 5 4 * Positive 14% 19% Neutral Negative Don t know/refused 5 4 Lombardo Consulting Group/U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Survey () Page 5

6 FREE ENTERPRISE ATTITUDES For each of the following items, please tell me how much you think free enterprise contributes to it using a one-to-five scale, where a five means free enterprise contributes an enormous amount and a one means free enterprise contributes nothing at all. You can use any number between one and five; the higher the number the more you think free enterprise contributes to that item. Free enterprise contributes nothing at all Free enterprise contributes an enormous amount Q6. Making the United States special Don t know/refused Mean 5% 6% 19% 22% 44% 3% 4.0 Wave I 5% 6% 22% 22% 43% 3% 3.9 Q7. Making America competitive in the global economy 4% 6% 14% 24% 49% 3% 4.1 Wave I 5% 6% 15% 24% 48% 2% 4.1 Q8. American jobs and economic growth 6% 8% 18% 23% 43% 2% 3.9 Wave I 5% 8% 19% 22% 44% 2% 4.0 Q9. Your own personal happiness and success 7% 7% 25% 24% 34% 2% 3.7 Wave I 6% 9% 25% 24% 32% 3% 3.7 Q10. Your own economic security 7% 10% 24% 24% 31% 3% 3.7 Wave I 7% 9% 26% 25% 32% 3% 3.7 SIZE OF GOVERNMENT Q11. I m going to read you two statements about the role of government, and I d like to know which one comes closer to your point of view. Statement A: Government should do more to solve problems and help meet the needs of people. Statement B: Government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals. Statement A 43% Statement B 51 Both/Some of both (VOL) 2 Neither (VOL) 2 Don t know (VOL) 2 Refused (VOL) -- Lombardo Consulting Group/U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Survey () Page 6

7 Q12. How concerned are you about the growth in the size and power of the U.S. federal government over the past few years? Would you say that you are Very concerned 52% Somewhat concerned 26 Not too concerned 12 Not at all concerned 9 Don t know (VOL) 1 Refused (VOL) -- Very/Somewhat concerned 78% Not too/not at all concerned 21 Don t know/refused 1 JOB CREATION Q13. Over the next six months, do you think the situation for people looking for jobs in the U.S. will get better, get worse or stay about the same? Get better 20% Get worse 32 Stay about the same 45 Don t know (VOL) 2 Q14. Which of the following poses the greatest threat to job creation in the U.S. over the next two years? Chronically high budget deficits 24% Expansion of the government s role in the economy 24 Trade barriers or tariffs 13 Higher taxes 22 Limits on carbon emissions to combat global warming 6 Something else (VOL) 5 Don t know (VOL) 6 Lombardo Consulting Group/U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Survey () Page 7

8 Q15. Recently the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said that the national debt will reach 63% of GDP by the end of the year. How concerned are you that chronically high budget deficits will have a negative impact on job creation by depriving the private sector of the capital it needs to hire more workers? Would you say that you are Very concerned 58% Somewhat concerned 25 Not too concerned 10 Not at all concerned 6 Don t know (VOL) 1 Very/Somewhat concerned 83% Not too/not at all concerned 16 Don t know/refused 1 Q16. And which of the following do you think will be responsible for creating the most jobs over the next few years? Wave I Small businesses 51% 49% Big businesses The federal government Entrepreneurs Something else/someone else (VOL) 1 1 Don t know (VOL) 3 2 Refused (VOL) Q17. Moving forward, what do you think is the best way to create jobs in the U.S.? (ASKED AS AN OPEN-ENDED QUESTION) Total Lower taxes/tax breaks for small businesses 22% Less government control/regulation/allow free enterprise 13 Less restrictions/more opportunities and support for small businesses 10 Invest in the country/encourage more companies/open new businesses 7 Stop sending jobs overseas/lessen hiring of foreign workers 7 Create jobs in all places/areas 6 Support/Promote/Help businesses and entrepreneurs 5 Less government spending/lower deficit 4 Invest in education/educate and train people 4 Hire more people/get people back to work 4 Bring back manufacturing jobs/manufacture our own products 3 Regulate the financial sector 3 Make it easier for small businesses to get loans or financing 2 Invest in technology and energy programs 2 None 5 Other20 Don t know/not sure 10 Lombardo Consulting Group/U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Survey () Page 8

9 Q18. On balance, do you think that labor unions have a positive or negative impact on job creation? Positive impact, strongly 12% Positive impact, somewhat 19 Neither/No impact on job creation (VOL) 8 Negative impact, somewhat 26 Negative impact, strongly 28 Don t know (VOL) 7 Refused (VOL) 1 Positive impact 31% Neither 8 Negative impact 54 Don t know/refused 8 (HALF SAMPLE A) Q19A. Do you think the health care reform legislation that was passed in March will or will NOT result in the creation of more jobs in the U.S.? Will result in more jobs 29% Will NOT result in more jobs 61 Don t know (VOL) 9 (HALF SAMPLE B) Q19B. Do you think the health care legislation passed in March by this administration and Congressional Democrats will or will NOT result in the creation of more jobs in the U.S.? Will result in more jobs 34% Will NOT result in more jobs 56 Don t know (VOL) 10 ADMINISTRATION POLICIES Q20. Do you think this administration s policies are making the economy better, worse, or are they having no real effect? Better 23% Worse 43 Having no real effect 30 Don t know (VOL) 4 Lombardo Consulting Group/U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Survey () Page 9

10 Q21. Do you think this administration s policies will result in more jobs in the U.S., fewer jobs in the U.S., or will they have no effect? More jobs 30% Fewer jobs 39 No effect 27 Don t know (VOL) 3 Q22. How confident are you that this administration s economic team will be able to solve the nation s current financial crisis and fix the problems that caused it? Are you Very confident 10% Fairly confident 13 Just somewhat confident 26 Not confident 51 Don t know (VOL) 1 Very/Fairly confident 23% Just somewhat/not confident 77 Don t know/refused 1 Q23. Do you think that this administration does or does NOT have a clear plan for creating jobs? Does have a plan for creating jobs 34% Does NOT have a plan for creating jobs 62 Don t know (VOL) 4 Refused (VOL) -- Q24. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? All of this administration s new rules and regulations on issues like healthcare, financial regulatory reform and the environment are expanding the size of government far too much, resulting in a weaker U.S. economy and fewer jobs. Strongly agree 42% Somewhat agree 18 Neither (VOL) 1 Somewhat disagree 18 Strongly disagree 19 Don t know (VOL) 2 Refused (VOL) 1 Agree 60% Neither 1 Disagree 37 Don t know/refused 3 Lombardo Consulting Group/U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Survey () Page 10

11 BUDGET DEFICIT Q25. Which do you think should be the more important priority for this administration? Reducing the deficit, even if it might slow down 59% our economic recovery Stimulating economic recovery through more 33 spending, even if it might mean less deficit reduction Neither (VOL) 3 Both (VOL) 1 Don t know (VOL) 4 Q26. Which ONE of the following two statements do you agree with more? In order to improve the U.S. economy, the federal 36% government should be spending more money on public investments such as infrastructure projects and healthcare In order to improve the U.S. economy, the federal 60 government should be spending less money and focusing on reducing the deficit Neither (VOL) 2 Both (VOL) * Don t know (VOL) 1 Lombardo Consulting Group/U.S. Chamber Free Enterprise Survey () Page 11