New Pew data on Americans’ national priorities have shifted strongly toward domestic concerns like lowering the federal debt and creating jobs, as terrorism and “strengthening the military” trend down.
“More generally, the public’s concerns rest more with domestic policy than at any point in the past 15 years; 81% say Obama should be focused on domestic policy, just 9% say foreign policy,” Pew wrote. But there is one international flashpoint that Americans think should remain a top issue. “Nonetheless, the public is keeping a wary eye on Iran. It is now seen as the country that represents the greatest danger to the U.S., and more Americans prioritize taking a firm stand against Iran over avoiding military conflict.”
For some perspective, domestic priorities have always been more valued over foreign policy in the Pew data over the last ten years, except for 2007, when they were tied. But the numbers above and from last year show an incredibly lopsided split, as the percentage of Americans that want the government to focus on foreign policy is in the single digits while the balance went to domestic concerns. It’s no surprise — economic concerns also dominate the priorities of Americans in polling on the 2012 races.
