U.S. citizens split on CAFTA

The Program on International Policy Attitudes reported on Monday, July 11, 2005 that it's poll of U.S. citizens found that:
When asked about the Central American Free Trade Agreement per se just half of respondents (50%) said they favor Congress approving it. In stark contrast to the partisan polarization in Congress, support did not differ by party affiliation—50% of Republicans were in favor, as were 51% of Democrats. The recent Senate vote on CAFTA, however, showed 78% of Republicans in favor and 73% of Democrats opposed.

The result indicates that we activists have not done nearly enough to educate and organize ordinary Americans against this NAFTA expansion.

The poll also found that:
Consistent with attitudes about CAFTA, the poll also found broader dissatisfaction with US trade policy. Presented three options only 16% endorsed current government policy saying, “I support the growth of international trade in principle and I approve of the way the US is going about expanding international trade.” But only 23% chose a position in opposition to the growth of trade. Rather 56% chose the position “I support the growth of international trade in principle, but I am not satisfied with the way the US government is dealing with the effects of trade on American jobs, the poor in other countries and the environment.”

It should be relatively easy to mobilize a populace that probably already has a general idea that U.S. trade policy is designed to benefit the elites.