American voters are increasingly willing to follow the lead of our allies in the interests of international cooperation. However, a plurality continues to believe that it would be better for our allies to follow the lead of the United States more often.

The latest Rasmussen Reports survey finds that 42% of Americans believe the allies should follow our lead more often. Thirty-two percent (32%) take the opposite view (an increase from 29% on Election Day). While those figures have shifted only a few points over the past month, there has been a significant shift over the past four years.

Following the 2002 mid-term elections, 52% believed that the allies should do more to follow the U.S. At that time, just 20% of American voters thought their nation should listen and follow the allies more. During the 2004 election, those numbers had slipped to 47% and 25% respectively.

There is a substantial partisan divide on this issue. Republicans, by a 68% to 16% margin, want the U.S. to continue taking the lead. Democrats, by 46% to 27% margin, want the U.S. to do more following. Those not affiliated with either major party are evenly divided.

The survey also confirmed the ongoing decline in confidence about America’s future. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Americans believe that our nation’s best days are still to come while 48% think they have come and gone (see previous survey results). Those figures reflect a sharp decline in confidence over the past two years. Confidence has also fallen sharply concerning the War on Terror.

Congress has fared poorly in this environment—just 11% now believe the outgoing legislators have done a good or an excellent job.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) believe that American society is generally fair and decent while 33% believe it is unfair and discriminatory.

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