Thread: Poll: Isolationism soars among Americans

http://www.wtop.com/?sid=1829195&nid=104

Poll: Isolationism soars among Americans
December 3, 2009 - 9:01am

By BARRY SCHWEID
AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans are turning away from the world, showing a tendency toward isolationism in foreign affairs that has risen to the highest level in four decades, a poll out Thursday found.

Almost half, 49 percent, told the polling organization that the United States should "mind its own business" internationally and let other countries get along the best they can on their own, the Pew Research Center survey found. That's up from 30 percent who said that in December 2002.

Results of the survey appear to conflict with President Barack Obama's activist foreign policy, including a newly announced buildup of 30,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan to fight Taliban and al-Qaida extremists.

"Isolationist Sentiment Surges to Four-Decade High," the nonpartisan research center headlined its report on the poll about America's role in the world.

Only 32 percent of the poll respondents favored increasing U.S. troops in Afghanistan, while 40 percent favored decreasing them. And fewer than half, or 46 percent, of those polled said it was somewhat or very likely that Afghanistan would be able to withstand the radicals' threat.

Forty-one percent of those surveyed said the United States plays a less important and powerful role as a world leader than it did a decade ago, up from 25 percent who said that just before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the report said.

Pew Research Center President Andrew Kohut said in an interview that the "very bad economy" appeared most responsible for the growth of isolationist sentiment. He said the public was also "displeased with the two wars we are waging, in Iraq and Afghanistan."

While isolationism and unilateralism reached four-decade highs among the public, the stature of China increased.

Among Americans polled, 44 percent said China was the world's leading economic power compared with 27 percent who named the United States. In February 2008, 41 percent said the U.S. was the leading economic power, while 30 percent said China.

A majority of Americans surveyed, or 53 percent, see China's emerging power as a threat to the United States.

The United States is seen by a comfortable majority, 63 percent, as the world's leading military power.

Concerning the Middle East, about half, or 51 percent, of respondents said they were more sympathetic toward Israel than to the Palestinians, who drew 12 percent. Fourteen percent supported neither side, while 19 percent offered no opinion.

The findings come from two surveys. The first poll, of 2,000 adults, was conducted by telephone Oct. 28 to Nov. 8 and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. A subsequent poll of 1,003 people conducted from Nov. 12-15 had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

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On the Net:

The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press: http://people-press.org


(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
By BARRY SCHWEID
AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans are turning away from the world, showing a tendency toward isolationism in foreign affairs that has risen to the highest level in four decades, a poll out Thursday found.

Almost half, 49 percent, told the polling organization that the United States should "mind its own business" internationally and let other countries get along the best they can on their own, the Pew Research Center survey found. That's up from 30 percent who said that in December 2002.

Results of the survey appear to conflict with President Barack Obama's activist foreign policy, including a newly announced buildup of 30,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan to fight Taliban and al-Qaida extremists.

"Isolationist Sentiment Surges to Four-Decade High," the nonpartisan research center headlined its report on the poll about America's role in the world.

Only 32 percent of the poll respondents favored increasing U.S. troops in Afghanistan, while 40 percent favored decreasing them. And fewer than half, or 46 percent, of those polled said it was somewhat or very likely that Afghanistan would be able to withstand the radicals' threat.

Forty-one percent of those surveyed said the United States plays a less important and powerful role as a world leader than it did a decade ago, up from 25 percent who said that just before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the report said.

Pew Research Center President Andrew Kohut said in an interview that the "very bad economy" appeared most responsible for the growth of isolationist sentiment. He said the public was also "displeased with the two wars we are waging, in Iraq and Afghanistan."

While isolationism and unilateralism reached four-decade highs among the public, the stature of China increased.

Among Americans polled, 44 percent said China was the world's leading economic power compared with 27 percent who named the United States. In February 2008, 41 percent said the U.S. was the leading economic power, while 30 percent said China.

A majority of Americans surveyed, or 53 percent, see China's emerging power as a threat to the United States.

The United States is seen by a comfortable majority, 63 percent, as the world's leading military power.

Concerning the Middle East, about half, or 51 percent, of respondents said they were more sympathetic toward Israel than to the Palestinians, who drew 12 percent. Fourteen percent supported neither side, while 19 percent offered no opinion.

The findings come from two surveys. The first poll, of 2,000 adults, was conducted by telephone Oct. 28 to Nov. 8 and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. A subsequent poll of 1,003 people conducted from Nov. 12-15 had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

___

On the Net:

The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press: http://people-press.org


(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Buzz up!

Originally Posted by canuck27

http://www.wtop.com/?sid=1829195&nid=104

Poll: Isolationism soars among Americans
December 3, 2009 - 9:01am

By BARRY SCHWEID
AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans are turning away from the world, showing a tendency toward isolationism in foreign affairs that has risen to the highest level in four decades, a poll out Thursday found.

Almost half, 49 percent, told the polling organization that the United States should "mind its own business" internationally and let other countries get along the best they can on their own, the Pew Research Center survey found. That's up from 30 percent who said that in December 2002.

Cut ourselves free of the albatross called Israel. . . . .

Almost half, 49 percent, told the polling organization that the United States should "mind its own business" internationally and let other countries get along the best they can on their own, the Pew Research Center survey found.

As always, about half of all Americans show sense. It will be difficult, though, to disentangle yourselves from the big-business interests that are using you to interfere everywhere for their profit.

I'm not so much an isolationist, but I'm damn sure tired of us playing cops and robbers, especially when we take both parts.

If isolationist means get the fuck out of Iraq and Afghanistan finally, then sign me up. Those wars are bankrupting us and wasting human life without making us one iota safer.

Strange -- the poll didn't as, "Should the United States have no interaction or trade with any other countries?" That's true isolationism, and I highly doubt a very large percentage of Americans would support that. Yet a desire to end two pointless wars somehow makes Americans isolationist.

LET"S GIVE BACK AMERICA TO THE TRUE AMERICANS

Originally Posted by Kynaston

Almost half, 49 percent, told the polling organization that the United States should "mind its own business" internationally and let other countries get along the best they can on their own, the Pew Research Center survey found.

As always, about half of all Americans show sense. It will be difficult, though, to disentangle yourselves from the big-business interests that are using you to interfere everywhere for their profit.

Isolationsm is really not the answer..

What we should get over is the notion that we can't engage in commerce with other countries unless we CHANGE them.. Change their government, change their faith, change their culture.

Originally Posted by KOBE SCREEN_pASS

If isolationist means get the fuck out of Iraq and Afghanistan finally, then sign me up. Those wars are bankrupting us and wasting human life without making us one iota safer.

Strange -- the poll didn't as, "Should the United States have no interaction or trade with any other countries?" That's true isolationism, and I highly doubt a very large percentage of Americans would support that. Yet a desire to end two pointless wars somehow makes Americans isolationist.

Wild swings of the pendulum instead of thoughtful evaluation of our idiot foreign policies.

i prefer it to war.
let us defend us instead of being the world police.
we can do humanitarian good n all, but as for putting our nose where it doesnt belong....america (OUR government) is guilty.
i despise our government.