Executive Decision Results
for 10/8 - 10/22
Review
During the past two weeks our hypothetical Chief Executives (you) had to make
a
decision concerning the future of our policy toward the Persian
Gulf. The options
presented
were the following:
Option A: Leave the Persian Gulf Alone.
Our policy of keeping troops in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to contain Iraq has
backfired: it is strengthening the forces of militant Islam, which are
potentially more dangerous than Saddam Hussein's regime. We should remove
our troops from the region. The only reason
we're in the Persian Gulf is to protect our oil supply. Let's
substantially raise the gas tax so we can fund the creation of viable alternative forms of
energy and end our dependence on Gulf oil.
Option B: Keep Saddam in Check.
The two main goals of the Gulf War -- containing Iraqi aggression and
safeguarding our oil supply -- were not fully realized. If American troops
were to leave the Gulf today, Saddam would most likely threaten
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait once again. Relying on alternative energy sources is not yet
economically feasible. We need to protect our oil supply by keeping troops
in the Gulf.
The Results
Option A: 43%
Option B: 57%
Respondents who chose Option A said that we shouldn't be the world's police
force and that our blockade is only strengthening Saddam Hussein's position.
Others argued that we should immediately formulate a new energy policy;
they pointed out that if we had kept up with the alternative-fuels
research begun twenty years ago, after the oil shocks of the 1970s, we
wouldn't be dependent on Gulf oil today.
Those who supported Option B said that Saddam Hussein is too much of a
threat to our interests for us to leave the Persian Gulf, and also pointed to the need to
contain Iran. Many felt that we must start developing alternate energy
strategies but that it will be a long time before we're no longer
dependent on Gulf oil. In the meantime, we should keep a close eye on Saddam.
Party Lines
| Option |
Democrats |
Republicans |
Independents |
Other |
Unregistered |
|---|
| Option A |
15% |
6% |
8% |
9% |
1% |
| Option B |
17% |
20% |
8% |
6% |
2% |
Party and Significance
| Significance |
Democrats |
Republicans |
Independents |
Other |
Unregistered |
|---|
| Completely Irrelevant |
4% |
1% |
0% |
3% |
1% |
| Not Very Important |
10% |
3% |
3% |
3% |
2% |
| Fairly Important |
9% |
13% |
7% |
5% |
0% |
| Very Important |
8% |
9% |
5% |
4% |
0% |
| THE Most Significant |
1% |
0% |
1% |
0% |
0% |
The Significance of the Issue
| Issue |
Most Significant |
Very Important |
Fairly Important |
Not Very Important |
Completely Irrelevant |
|---|
| Persian-Gulf Policy |
2% |
28% |
36% |
22% |
10% |
| Affirmative Action |
1% |
31% |
44% |
22% |
2% |
| Abortion |
9% |
39% |
26% |
22% |
4% |
| Drugs |
2% |
38% |
39% |
17% |
1% |
| Cuba |
0% |
5% |
28% |
63% |
3% |
| Welfare |
5% |
53% |
36% |
5% |
1% |
| Balancing the Budget |
17% |
49% |
21% |
9% |
3% |
| Tobacco Regulation |
0% |
10% |
28% |
43% |
15% |
| Trade Policy |
6% |
35% |
45% |
13% |
0% |
| Campaign-Finance Reform |
9% |
41% |
27% |
20% |
4% |
| Health-Care Reform |
4% |
39% |
41% |
13% |
2% |
| Entitlement Reform |
12% |
56% |
27% |
4% |
2% |
| Immigration Reform |
2% |
32% |
50% |
15% |
1% |
Age
| Age Range |
Option A |
Option B |
|---|
| Under 18 |
0% |
2% |
| 18-34 |
11% |
34% |
| 35-44 |
12% |
6% |
| 45-54 |
11% |
9% |
| Over 55 |
6% |
3% |
Gender
| Gender |
Option A |
Option B |
|---|
| Female |
9% |
10% |
| Male |
33% |
44% |
Gender and Significance
| Significance |
Females |
Males |
|---|
| Completely Irrelevant |
0% |
10% |
| Not Very Important |
7% |
13% |
| Fairly Important |
6% |
31% |
| Very Important |
5% |
21% |
| THE Most Significant |
1% |
1% |
Click here to return to the Executive Decision
index page.
All material © 1996 by The Atlantic
Monthly Company.
|
