STWR - Share The World's Resources

By Don Monkerud (STWR Member)

Luckily, for President Bush, the rest of the world doesn't get to vote in his run against John Kerry. If they did, Bush would fare about as well as a small town Little League team playing the New York Yankees.

Not only do recent polls reveal much about how the rest of the world views U.S. foreign policy but they also provide insights on how Americans choose politicians.

Recently, GlobeScan Incorporated, a global consulting firm, polled 35,000 people in 35 countries and found that 46 percent favor Kerry, while a mere 20 percent favor Bush.

Especially among traditional U.S. allies in Western Europe, Kerry trounces Bush. In Norway voters prefer Kerry over Bush 74 to 7 percent; in Germany 74 to 10 percent; in France 64 to 5 percent; in Italy 58 to 14 percent; in Spain 45 to 7 percent; and in England, the U.S.’s major ally in Iraq, Kerry beats Bush 47 to 16 percent.

The vast majorities for Kerry continued to mount with Canadian voters preferring Kerry over Bush 61 to 16 percent; Japanese 43 to 23 percent and Swedes 58 to 10 percent.

In only three countries the Philippines, Nigeria, and Poland does Bush win. In several countries, the votes were close: in India, Kerry lead Bush 34-33 percent, and in Thailand, Bush lead Kerry 33-30 percent,

The world's preference for Kerry as the U.S. president doesn't come as a surprise. Previous polls by the Pew Global Attitudes Project found a sharp drop in favorable opinions of the U.S. since Bush took office. The GlobeScan survey similarly found 53 percent of people in the 35 countries surveyed felt 'worse' about U.S. foreign policy, while only 19 percent felt 'better'. Those feeling 'worse' in Western Europe and Latin American ranged from 66 to 80 percent.

Why should Americans care about how the rest of the world would vote? Most don't. Studies by the University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes find that 75 percent of American voters say the preferences of people around the world do not influence their vote.

While Europeans say American politics is at its lowest level ever and see Bush as a reckless, ignorant, mispronouncing rich boy, a recent editorial in Britain's Guardian newspaper asks, "If Bush is dumb, dangerous how is it that millions of intelligent and perfectly decent people in the U.S. see it so differently?"

That's a good question. Why do we vote the way we do? Unfortunately, if recent American polls are any indication, the rest of the world may come to view Americans as shallow, unintelligent dupes of their monopolistic media.

Several recent polls indicate that the 'likeability' factor plays a decisive role our elections. Although a majority of Americans disapprove of the Iraq war, Bush's handling of the economy and the environment, and think the country is headed in the wrong direction, 57 percent of undecided voters would rather sit down and drink a beer with Bush than with Kerry, according to a Zogby/Williams Identity Poll--despite the fact that Bush can't drink (for fear of a return to alcoholism).

Sixty-seven percent of those polled say they "like Bush as a person" and 52 percent dislike Kerry. Seventy-seven percent of respondents give the president a negative job performance evaluation, but analysts claim that, because people feel 'comfortable' with Bush, they are more likely to vote for him.

One respondent said, “He (Bush) does make mistakes, says things like 'strategery' and we've all mispronounced something. You can relate to that. It makes him seem more human.” Kerry on the other hand comes off, another respondent says, "as smarter, more hip . . . superior."

Over 54 percent say it's important that the president shares their personal values 75 percent of Bush supporters say the president should emphasize religious values more in public life. A mere 13 percent would choose a president who enhances their personal economic situation.

Despite debates over red and blue states, rural and urban, and good versus evil as decisive factors in the election, an American Kennel Club survey finds that dog lovers would trust Bush to walk their dog, 51 percent, compared to 37 percent for Kerry. Forty four percent felt that Bush would better provide for their dogs happiness. Pollsters claim this reveals the importance of likeability in the election.

So how do Americans decide to vote? When a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company "Car Confessions" survey finds that 25 percent of Americans think their car is part of the family and 62 percent talk to their cars, what are we to think of American voting decisions?

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment