american dream sep 2007 lake presentation

Slide1: 

The American Dream and the 2008 Election: Voters looking for leadership to restore the Dream. Presented by Celinda Lake, Lake Research Partners

Summary Description of Methods: 

Interview Dates: September 6 to 20, 2007. 800 interviews of a random sample of registered voters nationwide. Sampling error is +/- 3.5% for the full sample, higher among split sampled questions.   Summary Description of Methods

Key Summary: The American Dream: 

The American Dream is shared set of beliefs and values that cut across class, party, and ideology, uniting nearly all Americans. The American dream is shared by all Americans and drives strong views on the issues facing the country and its future. The cornerstones of the American Dream include: A job with wages that support a family, Access to affordable quality health care, Opportunities for your children to succeed, and A secure and dignified retirement. The American Dream will play a key role in the 2008 Presidential Election. Candidates who can tap into this core value will be able to transcend the politics of “50% +1” and build a strong, broad based coalition. The American Dream is a particularly strong narrative to swing voters. Key Summary: The American Dream

Key Summary: The American Dream: 

Economic security is the priority of American voters—not as a safety net, but in terms of workers and their families achieving the economic security they deserve in return for working hard. In their own words, voters stress good jobs, opportunity for their children, hard work, and basic economic security over the achievement of wealth. Voters are increasingly pessimistic about achieving the American Dream, especially when compared to previous generations and the prospects for the next generation. Key Summary: The American Dream

Key Summary: Anger & Anxiety: 

Voters, including swing voters*, are anxious about the state of the economy. Their anger and anxiety is rooted in concern over basic economic security (health care, retirement, personal debt, paying the bills). Voters believe corporations and wealthy interests have too much power and that this is a barrier to working people achieving the American Dream. Key Summary: Anger & Anxiety *Swing voters are defined as voters who do not identify as strong Democrats or Republicans.

Key Summary: An Active Agenda: 

Voters want presidential candidates to offer a strong platform of economic security to restore the American Dream, especially health care reform. Voters want government to be active in holding corporations accountable. Voters believe that right now, corporations and CEOs have too much influence over the political process, but by joining together, working people can produce change. Voters believe strongly that labor unions can help restore balance to the American economy and strengthen the American Dream. Key Summary: An Active Agenda

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Context: The American Dream has four cornerstones, and their instability is leading to dissatisfaction and anxiety among voters.

Voters rank four cornerstones to the American dream: a good paying job, health care, secure retirement, and opportunities for your children. : 

Voters rank four cornerstones to the American dream: a good paying job, health care, secure retirement, and opportunities for your children. I’m going to read some goals that some people say are important for reaching the American Dream. For each one, please rate how important it is for you personally as part of the American Dream. Again use a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 means it is an extremely important part of the American Dream for you, and 0 means it is not important at all, and 5 is neutral.

Workers also strongly associate respect, owning a home, job benefits, quality of life and peace of mind with the American Dream. : 

Workers also strongly associate respect, owning a home, job benefits, quality of life and peace of mind with the American Dream. I’m going to read some goals that some people say are important for reaching the American Dream. For each one, please rate how important it is for you personally as part of the American Dream. Again use a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 means it is an extremely important part of the American Dream for you, and 0 means it is not important at all, and 5 is neutral.

Nearly three out of four voters believe the American Dream is becoming harder to reach.: 

Nearly three out of four voters believe the American Dream is becoming harder to reach. Do you think it is becoming harder or easier these days to achieve the American Dream, or is it about the same?* * Asked of half of respondents Among Swing Voters: 68% Harder 7% Easier

Two thirds also believe it will be harder for the next generation to achieve the American Dream. : 

Two thirds also believe it will be harder for the next generation to achieve the American Dream. * Asked of half of respondents Looking to the next generation, the way things are going now, do you feel the American Dream will be easier to reach than today, harder to reach, or will it be the same?* Among Swing Voters: 68% Harder 7% Easier

Voters are deeply pessimistic about the state of the country’s economy. : 

Voters are deeply pessimistic about the state of the country’s economy. Generally speaking, do you think that the economy in this country is going in the RIGHT DIRECTION, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the WRONG TRACK? Among Swing Voters: 59% Wrong track 31% Right Direction

Americans see actions of corporations as the key barriers to achieving the American Dream. : 

Americans see actions of corporations as the key barriers to achieving the American Dream. Now, still thinking about the American Dream, I’m going to read you a list of things that some people say are reasons the American Dream is becoming more difficult to reach. For each one, please rate how convincing it is as a reason for why the American Dream may be more difficult to reach. Use a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 means it is an extremely convincing reason, and 0 means it is not convincing at all as a reason, and 5 is neutral.

Voters see a clear link between the government’s inaction and misplaced priorities and the misdeeds of corporations. : 

Voters see a clear link between the government’s inaction and misplaced priorities and the misdeeds of corporations. Now, still thinking about the American Dream, I’m going to read you a list of things that some people say are reasons the American Dream is becoming more difficult to reach. For each one, please rate how convincing it is as a reason for why the American Dream may be more difficult to reach. Use a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 means it is an extremely convincing reason, and 0 means it is not convincing at all as a reason, and 5 is neutral.

Far from helping, a majority of voters believe government policies of the last seven years have actually made the American Dream harder to achieve. : 

Far from helping, a majority of voters believe government policies of the last seven years have actually made the American Dream harder to achieve. * Asked of half of respondents Specifically, have the government policies of the last 7 years made it easier to achieve the American Dream, harder, or no different?*

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2008 and beyond: Voters are looking for action from the next president to restore the foundation of the American Dream.

Voters highly value economic security over opportunity.: 

Voters highly value economic security over opportunity. Thinking about the global economy, which is more important to you personally – economic opportunity or economic security?* * Asked of half of respondents Among Swing Voters: 27% Opportunity 69% Security

Health care is the number one American Dream issue leading up to the 2008 election. : 

Health care is the number one American Dream issue leading up to the 2008 election. Thinking about your own situation, what current economic issue is most important in determining your vote for president? * Asked of half of respondents Bigger than the next two issues combined.

Voters are mixed as to whether presidential candidates are even addressing the most important issues. : 

Voters are mixed as to whether presidential candidates are even addressing the most important issues. Are the candidates for president talking about the issues that matter most to YOU, or aren’t they talking much about those issues? Among Independents: 38% Yes 45% No

Democrats have a strong early edge as the party most addressing voters’ American Dream issues, but a significant number of voters are up for grabs.: 

Democrats have a strong early edge as the party most addressing voters’ American Dream issues, but a significant number of voters are up for grabs. Which set of presidential candidates are talking MOST about the issues that matter most to YOU, [ROTATE] the Democrats or the Republicans?

The edge holds among swing voters, but more than a third of this group feels that no one has addressed their issues.: 

The edge holds among swing voters, but more than a third of this group feels that no one has addressed their issues. Which set of presidential candidates are talking MOST about the issues that matter most to YOU, [ROTATE] the Democrats or the Republicans?

Almost all voters are hoping for change from the 2008 elections, with a majority demanding a great deal of change. : 

Almost all voters are hoping for change from the 2008 elections, with a majority demanding a great deal of change. * Asked of half of respondents Overall, when you think about the 2008 election, do you want to see change, or a continuation of policies of the past 7 years?*

Even people who voted to reelect George W. Bush want change by a huge margin. : 

Even people who voted to reelect George W. Bush want change by a huge margin. * Asked of half of respondents Overall, when you think about the 2008 election, do you want to see change, or a continuation of policies of the past 7 years?*

Slide24: 

Joining Together to Restore the Dream: Workers believe that unions can and should play an active role in restoring the American Dream and balancing the power of corporations.

Voters – especially swing voters – fear that corporations and CEOs will have more influence over the presidential election than regular working people. : 

Voters – especially swing voters – fear that corporations and CEOs will have more influence over the presidential election than regular working people. Who has more influence on presidential elections today: big corporations and CEOs, or working people like you? *Dark colors indicate intensity Among Swing Voters 73% Corporations and CEOs 20% Working people

Voters are optimistic that the next president can improve the lives of America’s families. : 

Voters are optimistic that the next president can improve the lives of America’s families. How much of a difference can the next president make in creating an America where every American family has a chance to achieve the American Dream – a lot, some, a little, or not much at all?* **Dark colors indicate intensity Among Swing Voters 62% A lot/Some 36% A little/not much * Asked of half of respondents

Voters want the next president to support workers’ right to organize. : 

Voters want the next president to support workers’ right to organize. The next president of the United States needs to support the right of working Americans to freely join a union if they want.* **Dark colors indicate intensity Among Swing Voters 83% Agree 14% Disagree * Asked of half of respondents

Voters see a key role for unions in upholding the cornerstones of the American Dream. : 

Voters see a key role for unions in upholding the cornerstones of the American Dream. I’m going to read some goals that some people say are important for reaching the American Dream. For each one, please tell me whether working people joining together in unions or worker associations would help achieve that goal or not.

Voters also see unions as helping with other aspects of the American Dream that revolve around the job. : 

Voters also see unions as helping with other aspects of the American Dream that revolve around the job. I’m going to read some goals that some people say are important for reaching the American Dream. For each one, please tell me whether working people joining together in unions or worker associations would help achieve that goal or not.