Dear globalists, allow me to explain why Americans are rebelling en masse against you

[pampango]

14. As a believer in the value of trade (like FDR), I know I quake in my boots every time you post.

Last edited Mon Mar 26, 2012, 07:27 AM - Edit history (1)

You are right that popular opinion is running against trade agreements. What you failed to mention is that this trend is being led by the right, particularly the teabaggers.



Teabaggers believe that "free trade agreements like NAFTA, the policies of the WTO..." are bad for the US by a 63 to 24 margin (a 2 1/2 to 1 ratio). Republicans also oppose them by almost a 2 to 1 margin (54% to 28%). Only Democrats, as a group, still support "free trade agreements like NAFTA, the policies of the WTO..." by a 40% to 35%. This poll was done about 17 months ago and that that may have changed as well.

So I agree with you that opinion is running against trade agreements. The poll shows a decline in support across political groups from 2009 to 2010. Where I would disagree is whether this opinion change is being led by the right or the left and whether it represents success for conservative forces or liberal ones.

According to this poll, conservatives are far more negative on the value of trade agreements than are liberals. (If you know of other polls that indicate otherwise, I would love to see them.) In your view, are liberals leading the movement against trade agreements but are somehow having more success convincing conservatives than other liberals? (The decine in support from 2009 to 2010 was most dramatic among republicans, much less so for Democrats, even though republican support was weaker to begin with.)

I haven't seen similar polls for Europe, but political parties on the right (particularly on the far-right, like France's National Front) there are leading the campaign for reinstating tariffs for intra-European trade and higher tariffs for trade with non-European countries. So in Europe, as in the US, the right appears to be the anti-trade agreement leader.