Business Issues in the News          See also:  Budget/Taxes | Economic Outlook

Polls listed chronologically. Data are from nationwide surveys of Americans 18 & older.

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Dec. 19-21, 2008. N=1,013 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).

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"In general, do you think there is too much, too little, or about the right amount of government regulation of business and industry?" N=515, MoE ± 4.5 (Form A)

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12/19-21/08

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9/19-21/08

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"In general, do you think there is too much, too little, or about the right amount of government regulation of the stock market and financial institutions?" N=498, MoE ± 4.5 (Form B)

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12/19-21/08

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9/19-21/08

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"As you may know, a financial advisor named Bernard Madoff has been accused of running an illegal scheme in which many people lost millions of dollars. Do you think Madoff is an isolated case that does not reflect on other financial advisors and institutions, or do you think Madoff's behavior is common among financial advisors and institutions?"

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12/19-21/08

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"The federal government will provide some of the major U.S. auto companies with more than thirteen billion dollars in loans in order to prevent them from going into bankruptcy. In exchange for the loans, the government wants the auto companies to produce plans by the end of March that show how they would become viable businesses in the long run. Do you favor or oppose this decision?"

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12/19-21/08

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"If the major U.S. auto companies ask for more money next year, do you think the federal government should give them any additional assistance, or should the government let them go into bankruptcy?"

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12/19-21/08

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"Thinking about the thirteen billion dollars in loans that the auto companies are getting right now, how much of that money do you think they will be able to pay back to the government? Do you think the auto companies will be able to pay back all of that money, most of it, some of it, only a little of it, or do you think the auto companies will not be able to pay any of that money back?"

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12/19-21/08

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"If one or more of the major U.S. auto companies went into bankruptcy, what effect do you think that would have on the U.S. economy? Do you think that would cause a crisis, major problems, minor problems, or no problems at all for the U.S. economy?"

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12/19-21/08

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"And if one or more of the major U.S. auto companies went into bankruptcy, what effect do you think that would have on your personal financial situation? Do you think that would cause a crisis, major problems, minor problems, or no problems at all for you personally?"

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12/19-21/08

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"If you were shopping for a new car, how likely is it that you would buy a car from an auto company in bankruptcy: very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?"

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12/19-21/08

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"In general, do you have a positive or a negative opinion of each of the following groups of people? . . ."

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"Executives at the major U.S. auto companies"

12/19-21/08

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"The leaders of the auto workers' union"

12/19-21/08

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"People who work at the major U.S. auto companies"

12/19-21/08

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ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Dec. 11-14, 2008. N=1,003 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

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"The federal government is considering loaning up to 14 billion dollars to the Big Three U.S. automakers and putting in place a government board to oversee their restructuring. Some people say it's a bailout those companies don't deserve, and that they'd be better off reorganizing under bankruptcy laws. Other people say it's necessary to protect auto workers and save a key part of the U.S. economy. On balance, do you support or oppose this plan?" Options rotated

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12/11-14/08

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"Do you think the automakers' problems are mainly the fault of the bad economy or mainly the fault of their own management?" Options rotated

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12/11-14/08

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"Say the loan plan is not approved and one or more of the automakers has to go under protection of bankruptcy laws while they try to restructure themselves. Do you think that would be good for the economy, bad for the economy, or would not make much difference either way?"

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12/11-14/08

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FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. Dec. 9-10, 2008. N=900 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

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"How would you rate the overall quality of cars and trucks made by U.S. auto companies? Are they better, worse or the same as foreign cars?"

12/9-10/08

"Do you approve or disapprove of the federal government giving the big three U.S. automakers billions of dollars in loan money?"

12/9-10/08

"Do you think U.S. car companies will survive on their own, without government loan money; survive only if the government loans them money; or fail, with or without the government loan?"

12/9-10/08

"If U.S. automakers receive a government loan, how likely do you think it is that they will eventually pay back the money: very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not at all likely?"

12/9-10/08

"If U.S. automakers go out of business, how much do you think it would hurt the nation's economy: a great deal, some, not much, or not at all?"

12/9-10/08

"Which one of the following do you think is most to blame for the U.S. auto industry's troubles: labor unions, company management and executives, government regulations, or economic conditions?"

12/9-10/08

Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll. Dec. 6-8, 2008. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

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"As you may know, the three U.S. automakers -- General Motors, Ford and Chrysler -- appeared before Congress to say that their companies are on the verge of bankruptcy and to ask for taxpayer-funded loans to help them survive. Do you think the government should or should not rescue the three U.S. automakers?"

12/6-8/08

"If the federal government does not provide assistance to the three automakers and the American automobile companies go out of business, would that be a major problem, or a minor problem, or not a problem at all for the country?"

12/6-8/08

CBS News Poll. Dec. 4-7, 2008. N=1,098 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).

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"Do you approve or disapprove of the federal government providing money to the big three U.S. automakers if it would help prevent them from going out of business or declaring bankruptcy?"

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ALL

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Republicans

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Democrats

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Independents

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"If the government does provide money to the big three automakers, should the government get a say in how these companies are managed, or should the government not be involved in the companies' management decisions?"

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12/4-7/08

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"If the government does provide money to the big three automakers, should it require these automakers to build more cars that use alternative fuels, or should the government not be involved in deciding what kinds of cars these companies make?"

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12/4-7/08

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"If one or more of the big three automakers were to go out of business, how much of an impact do you think that would have on the nation's economy? Do you think it would have a major impact, a minor impact, not much impact, or no impact at all?"

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12/4-7/08

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"If you were in the market to buy a new car right now, would the economic problems of General Motors, Ford, or Chrysler affect whether or not you buy a car from them?" If yes: "Would you be more likely or less likely to buy a car from them?"

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12/4-7/08

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"Are the problems facing the big three auto companies mostly the result of the companies' management strategies and decisions, or are they mostly the result of economic conditions outside the companies' control?"

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12/4-7/08

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Gallup Poll. Dec. 4-7, 2008. N=1,009 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).

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"Would you favor or oppose the federal government giving major financial assistance to the big three U.S. automotive companies if they are close to going broke or declaring bankruptcy?"

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12/4-7/08

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11/13-16/08

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If oppose federal assistance (N=513, MoE ± 5):
"Suppose one or more of the three major U.S. automotive companies was certain to fail unless the government provided assistance. In that case, would you favor or oppose the federal government providing assistance to the major U.S. automotive companies?"

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12/4-7/08

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11/13-16/08

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"Please tell me whether you think each of the following deserves a great deal of blame, some blame, not much blame, or no blame at all for the problems faced by the three major U.S. auto companies. How about [see below]?"

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"The executives who run the U.S. auto companies"

12/4-7/08

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"The labor unions that represent many U.S. auto workers"

12/4-7/08

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"The current economic recession"

12/4-7/08

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"Government laws and regulations that affect the auto industry"

12/4-7/08

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"American consumers who decide to buy foreign cars rather than American cars"

12/4-7/08

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Dec. 3-7, 2008. N=1,003 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).

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"The big three automakers in the United States have asked for up to 34 billion dollars in loans from the government. Some people say it's a bailout those companies don't deserve, and that they'd be better off reorganizing under bankruptcy laws. Other people say it's necessary to protect auto workers and save a key part of the U.S. economy. On balance, do you support or oppose this plan?" Options rotated

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Democrats

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Independents

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Republicans

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CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Dec. 1-2, 2008. N=1,096 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

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"The major U.S. auto companies have asked the government for a program that would provide them with several billion dollars in assistance. The auto companies say they may go into bankruptcy without that assistance. Based on what you have read or heard, do you favor or oppose this program?"

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12/1-2/08

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"If the government provides several billion dollars in assistance to the auto companies, do you think that program would treat U.S. taxpayers fairly or unfairly?"

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12/1-2/08

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