One year after the spectacular collapse of the Wall Street Economy, how do big corporations stack up with the public?
A new poll, the results of which have been made available to Firedoglake, shows a clear majority of the country—51%—thinks big corporations have too much power, amounting to a problem for our economy. On the flip side, just 22% think the same of "big labor unions."
Even better news for unions: the same poll shows 54% of the public sees unions as favorable, compared to just 38% unfavorable.
These new numbers are a welcome shift from last month’s Gallup poll, which showed a sharp drop in favorability of unions, down to 48%. Indeed, the previous Gallup poll in December showed unions enjoyed 59% support.
It appears Gallup’s September poll was an outlier – unions have had consistent favorability for years in Gallup’s polling, and Gallup found in March that 53% of the public supports the Employee Free Choice Act. When considered with the new numbers from today’s poll, it should be clear that unions still enjoy support from a strong majority of the country.
This poll was conducted by Benenson Strategy Group poll of 804 voters nationwide from September 14-19, 2009. Questions after the jump.
"Labor Unions"
Total favorable 54%
Total unfavorable 38%
"Which do you think is the bigger problem for our economy?"
Big corporations have too much power, 51%
Big labor unions have too much power, 22%
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Haven’t we ALL seen the concrete results of NOT having unions?
The GOP and Lou Dobbs (the guy hates Unions as much as he hates immigrants) keep repeating as true lies about Unions.
I wonder what the poll numbers would be if the lies stopped.
It’s my opinion from closely following the economy for all those years, that workers and consumers are pretty smart about their economics. The problem is that the govt is in big business pocket, so workers & consumers never get what they want and need.
That’s correct. It’s why we haven’t had the Employee Free Choice Act pass yet. Big business has such a disproportionate weight in policy it’s amazing.
We need to identify the GOP with big Corporations. We need to tie the Tea Baggers to big Corporations like Fox News. Then we point out Fox has always been anti union and anti bank regulation we blame them for the banking crisis.
We should be able to find plenty of Beck, O’Reily, Hannity quotes on the subject. We need to show the Lizard brains that Fox is using them betraying them.
Lizards care more about emotional things logic won’t convince them.
And it’s gotten a lot worse since Clinton decided the Ds would live off the corporate dole too.
It’s both parties. See my 6.
Exactly!! Democrats have gotten away from good, old-fashioned progressive populism.
Instead of trying to summarize a 10-point plan in a 10 second news sound byte, Dems should link Republicans to big Banks and big corporations and the deregulation that led to this Great Recession.
Yes… we have… a more efficient company… Union is a lazy man’s (and woman’s) crutch.
thanks Michael
after almost 30 years of Labor-bashing and entire generations unfamiliar with the benefits of union membership, I find these numbers incredibly encouraging
Not a pretty sight is it?
ThingsComeUndone@5..More people like Alan Grayson would be nice, maybe his influence will give heart to the hand wringers.
Blue Texan’s regularly scheduled post is up: “Gen. Ray Ordierno: We May Never Win in Iraq”
Appeal to the Lizards through Populism sounds good it should work. But as eCHAN @6 notes the Dems are connected to Corporations guys like Rahm, Harry and Nancy are in the Dem leadership positions.
We need to take them out before the party will go Populist.
The GOP on the other hand is full of fake populism based on hate anger etc they are selling daily doses of anger on Glen Beck every day.
Even Orwell I thinknever wrote about how addicting anger and belonging could be.
Alan is Great!
Oopa Michael,
Thank you, Back in Detroit many years ago there used to be this union organizer for the Operating Engineers who had an uncanny ability to find me no matter where I was, I would be working way out in the country someplace and he would show up in his Cadillac. I eventually became an Operating Engineer and truly believe that unions are extremely important in representing the people where they have no one else between them and those who profit from their labor.
Tell that to Captain Sullenberger,an airline pilot who safely landed on the Hudson River-saving the passengers lives -and the union members who helped complete the rescue.
Or tell that to the firefighters,policeman and nurses who do the dirty work everyday..they’re union,too.
Maddy, you are even more right than you may even realize.
I took the time to read Grayson’s home page,Grayson for Congress.
WOW!
This was a kid from Brooklyn-the public housing projects- that heard the ell rattle every hour or so ,growing up.
Reads like Horatio Alger.
He took on Iraq contractors in later life AND WON!
My linking skills are nill..but if somneone would link it,MUCH important info to be gleaned.
What a man!
Alan’s Fight Against War Profiteers
“Mr. Grayson has filed dozens of lawsuits against Iraq contractors on behalf of corporate whistle-blowers. He won a huge victory [March 2006] when a federal jury in Virginia ordered a security firm called Custer Battles LLC to return $10 million in ill-gotten funds to the government. The ruling marked the first time an American firm was held responsible for financial improprieties in Iraq.” – The Wall Street Journal, April 19, 2006
Everyone is concerned about the War in Iraq. Alan Grayson has done something about it. Alan has taken on the biggest corrupt defense contractors, and won.
Alan grew up in “the projects” in the Bronx. He heard the squeal of the wheels of the elevated trains, every five minutes, all day and all night. At the age of 12, he took the subway to school, by himself. At the age of 11, a bully threw him under a moving bus. He lived.
Alan was accepted to Harvard College. He cleaned toilets there, and worked as a night watchman. He graduated in three years, with high honors.
Then he went to graduate school at Harvard. In only four years, he received a law degree (with honors), he earned a master’s degree in Government, and he finished the course work and passed the general examinations for a Ph.D.
After graduate school, Alan worked as a judge’s assistant at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. He worked with Judges Ginsburg, Bork, Scalia, and Starr. He then joined Judge Ginsburg’s husband’s law firm, where he represented government contractors.
Twenty years ago, Alan helped to found the Alliance for Aging Research, to help promote health and a good life for older people. The motto of the Alliance is “Living to 100 – and Loving It!” Alan has served as an officer of the Alliance for two decades. He also supported the work of Arnold Palmer Hospital for many years.
Excerpt Grayson for Congress-”About Alan”
Home | Alan Grayson for U.S. CongressDemocratic nominee for Florida’s 8th District. Includes his issue positions, biography, news, videos and how to support his campaign.
http://www.graysonforcongress.com/ – Cached – Similar
Contact
About Alan
Health Care
The Issues
Two groups have been doing yeoman’s work trying to educate the public about the issues confronting American workers,Drum Major Institute and American Rights at Work. They are superb resources for documented info and updates on corporate groups undermining the fabric of America’s labor force.
American Rights at Work – Anti-Union NetworkAmerican Rights at Work is a nonprofit advocacy organization whose mission is to support workers’ rights to a free choice and a fair chance to join a union. …
http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/t…..work/home/ – Cached – Similar
American Rights at Work – HomeEnter the Anti-Union Network The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s most powerful business lobbying organization, has been campaigning against unions, …
http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/ – Cached – Similar
The Anti-Union Network | DMI BlogSep 27, 2006 … ARAW recently launched a new website called The Anti-Union Network, the purpose of which is to identify and provide clear information about …
http://www.dmiblog.com/archives/̷…..twork.html – Cached – Similar
It is even worse than people realize. The corporation I used to work for as a nurse made it clear to us how we were to answer questions when polled, or contacted by the media, if we valued our job. People are afraid. Alan Grayson is my hero. He tells it like it is.
I called his office this morning to thank him, It is my fervent hope that he is what he appears to be.
Amidst all the shit he is a shining light.
Remember the American seamen who fought off the pirates? They were union members, too.
http://action.seiu.org/page/s/pirates
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..r_embedded
Michael Moore’s new film points out that “Capitalism” edges out “Socialism” as a preferred economic system by only a couple of points in polls.