EDITORIAL: Anti-American bias

By | Saturday, July 5, 2008

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The latest Pew Global Attitudes survey has several major flaws that demonstrate an ingrained bias. The survey is conducted every year by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, which is part of the nonprofit "fact-tank" in Washington, the Pew Research Center. When the report was issued in mid-June, major news outlets reported on its findings in a mostly uncritical manner. In fact, on closer examination, it is apparent that the questions in the survey are either vague or incomplete.

The report begins with the premise that there is anti-Americanism in the world and asks leading questions to confirm its existence. This is not counterbalanced by sufficient questions that would elicit pro-American expressions.

The survey polled more than 24,000 people in 24 countries from March 17 to April 21. The report states that there are "some encouraging signs for America's global image for the first time this decade," with "modest" improvements in 10 of 21 countries surveyed. More people around the world are interested in U.S. politics and more believe that the next president "may well change U.S. foreign policy for the better." And in nearly every country surveyed, the report states, "greater numbers express confidence in presidential candidate Barack Obama than in John McCain."

The report also says that many who were polled have a negative view of the economy of their country — for which they blame the United States. Most startling of all, the report finds that "there is a growing symmetry in the way that the United States and China are viewed by people all around the world." Both countries are disliked for conducting a unilateral foreign policy, for having a negative impact on neighboring economies and for failing to deal with environmental concerns.

Do you see where this is heading? By reading between the lines, we can surmise that, according to the report, in order for America to improve its image abroad, the nation should adopt liberal policies — such as ensuring that our economic plans also bolster those of other nations, conduct a multilateral foreign policy and be ever-vigilant on the environment. Also, the survey's bias is apparent from the "symmetry" that is discovered between China and America. How, by any stretch of the imagination, can one of the most free, prosperous and democratic nations in the history of the world be lumped into the same category as a nation whose socialist regime has led to the oppression and deaths of millions of its citizens? A survey that cannot make some basic distinctions is clearly suspect.

One could very well produce an entirely different report on the world's view of America by asking an alternate series of questions. Which country would you most like to live in? Which country has the greatest constitution? Which nation is the most democratic and free? Which nation is the most prosperous? Which leaders in the history of the world do you most admire?

The Pew Global Attitudes Survey essentially flies against common sense: Immigrants from all over the world risk both life and limb to enter America illegally; and one of the most precious possessions in the world is an American passport.

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