According to the latest Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index (CFPI), 60% of Americans say reducing energy dependence would strengthen their nation’s security “a great deal.” The report shows that the public has begun to zero in on economic and energy issues, and believe that becoming less dependent on other countries for their supply of energy should be the first priority for the US national security strategy.
Daniel Yankelovich, Public Agenda’s Chairman suggests that the most important thing for politicians and policy makers to take away is that the public’s concerns about energy policy aren’t limited to rising gas prices, Americans are connecting energy policy to national security issues in ways that they didn’t a few years ago.
A year ago, 29 percent said Iraq was the biggest problem while the economy barely registered at three percent as a foreign policy concern. Today only 19% think Iraq is a problem, while 11% say the economy’s the biggest international problem on par with terrorism at 10 %. The report also highlights how anxious Americans are… at 132 its down 4 points from last year but is still very high since records began.
