Americans do not speak with one voice about globalization, and while most people are enjoying the boom years, it is a very top-heavy celebration. But these overall results mask a yawning gap. Surveys in 1998 by Pew and Gallup found small pluralities favoring globalization overall, but both polls also showed the same strong socioeconomic skew. Pew surveys of long-term trends, updated each year, have found that on average, Americans rate their financial situation better now than they did from 1994 through 1996. Those in lower-earning families rated their situation no better this year than they did in 1994.
Wages continue to be a source of concern.
Just 39 percent of Americans say they earn enough money to lead the life they want. The public continues to be of two minds about free trade, however, generally supporting the concept but expressing criticism of specific policies. The North American Free Trade Agreement gets, at best, a mixed review, and there is still little support for giving the president increased authority to negotiate trade agreements. Broad opposition to the WTO could develop around specific concerns about wages and environmental and human rights issues. For now, the dissatisfaction showing in Seattle is less important than a more widespread public optimism about future economic gains.