Even as the White House and Congress put the finishing touches on a $15 billion rescue package for the Big Three automakers, 53% of U.S. voters say they oppose taxpayer-funded loans to help keep General Motors, Ford and Chrysler in business.
Fifty-five percent (55%) of Americans oppose taxpayer-funded loans to help the Big Three automakers stay in business, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Nearly half of U.S. voters (48%) say it is better for the economy to let companies like General Motors fail rather than providing government subsidies to keep them in business.
Sizable pluralities of Americans are opposed to taxpayer-backed bailouts of the Big Three automakers, with 73% now worried the U.S. government will run out of money with all the demands being made on the federal treasury in the current economic crisis.
Forty-one percent (41%) of Americans think the federal government should provide tax incentives for anyone who buys a car from a U.S. auto company, as two of the Big Three automakers talk merger to survive in the current economic climate.
A recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 84% of adults consider the U.S. automobile industry at least somewhat important to the financial stability of the overall economy. That includes 39% who believe it is Very Important.
Despite a long-term slump in the auto industry-hitting jobs hardest in Michigan-most Americans view the country's big auto makers at least somewhat favorably. An overwhelming majority (84%) say the U.S. auto industry is at least somewhat important to the financial stability of the national economy overall, with 49% saying it is "very important."
Discussions about a possible alliance among General Motors (GM), Nissan and Renault have ignited sparks among union leaders and elected officials in Michigan and cast a renewed focus on the state of America’s auto industry.
