Poll: US Image Improves, But Still Overwhelmingly Negative

Reuters:

The U.S. image abroad has begun to improve after worsening for years, but the United States is still viewed more negatively than the European Union, Brazil, China, India and Russia, said a BBC World Service survey released on Tuesday.

The survey, conducted in 34 countries, found that positive views of U.S. influence have risen by about 4 percentage points over the past year. The average positive rating was 35 percent, versus an average negative rating of 47 percent.

Read the whole story: Reuters

Comments

[dsm]

Stability and wellbeing study.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3613926.ece

Some of the comments are hilarious especially from the USA is number 1 crowd.
Just keep telling yourselves that..

[Blutus]

To compare the UK to the United States is just silly.

But go right ahead!

And the article said the top coutries were all secure and all stable.

And that small arms in the hands of Americans was somehow a problem

Tell that to all those disaffected youths rioting in America.

Oh, that's not happening here.

Enjoy Islam.

And the UK is the size of what, Oregon?!

Oh, wait, not that big....................

[LAJonathan]

Exactly, not surprised by this at all. Now, if we could just get the average American to understand the implications of this, we can move in the right direction once and for all and give our military and our pro war nation a rest and begin to rebuild the infrastructure of this country. National security experience wouldn't be needed if we would keep our noses out of other countries trying to spread our "democracy." Terrorism would disappear...

[DerekRC]

I spend alot of time in France as my wife is French. The negativity of the posters at the Huffingtonpost towards the United States far exceeds the negativity of French people that I come into contact with. There seems to be a strong disconnect between what is published vs. reality.

Sarkozy was elected because of his positive views towards the United States, as well as his reformist intentions regarding the French welfare system and immigration issues.

Die hard liberals will always hate the United States when a Republican is in office. It' no surprise!

[jmaster]

It must delight you to no end to learn that the cited poll finds the US less hated worldwide than Iran. I've been abroad too. A lot, including more than a few trips to France. Your data points don't match mine - but then, my data points weren't raised by Vichy collaborators. Another note - I saw nothing about international opinion regarding our President. From my own experience I don't think he would fare nearly as well as our nation does.

[rbspickles]

I just can't figure out why the rest of the world looks at the US with disdain? I mean, heck, we are some really nice people. Greedy, rude, boasting, selfish and impatient yes, but really deep down, we are nice people....aren't we?

[LAJonathan]

Its because of our foreign policy and the arrogance of our government leaders. I don't think its the people at all, but we end up getting it in the end because we elect them.

[DennyCrane]

I love how some people react to surveys like this by saying they don't care what the world thinks of us. What a stupid mindset. You should worry what other people think of America. If they don't like us, they'll be less likely to help us when we need help. And if they hate us, they might even attack us. Oh wait. According to Bush, they attack us for our freedom, not because we stick our noses in their affairs and tell them how to live their lives.

[BrooklynLager]

It's because they know we're considering electing someone named Barack Hussein Obama to President. And that the war in Iraq is a major campaign issue.

That's my theory.

[LAJonathan]

On the contrary, if you were an informed American, you would know that Obama has huge worldwide popularity and most international media has already dismissed HRC as a liar. They don't understand why she's still in the race. You would know this if you were global, but you obviously are just another ignorant American.

[harriscrl3]

Its Improving because Bush is GOING GOING GONE!!!!!

Carol

[MikeDu]

I was going to say about the same thing. George Herbert Walker Bush has run the country out of steam. The rest of the world is starting to see us as a paper tiger. Its not that our approval rating is going up, its that people are turning from revulsion to mere indifference.

[TimmySlagle]

This is telling: " [America] had its lowest positive ratings from Mexico..."

Yet our Southern border tells a different story. Perhaps the Mexicans who love America, are already here.

[StillAmused]

They're not nearly as bone-stupid as Republican voters. They know an election's coming and, all around the world, hope springs eternal.

[JimInArizona]

I could care less about what the Euros or the Asians think of America. It's none of my business what other people think of me. If they don't like us quit coming here. If they don't like us take your UN Building and its self-righteous preachers and move to somewhere in Sudan where they could actually see some of the world’s real problems.

It is time we quit trying to be the world’s policemen, and bring not just the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan, but from everywhere. It is time for the Euros and the Asians to defend they own vital interests in oil.

[Uffdaguy]

When I read your post, I could have sworn I was reading something from the interwar period, where Americans, especially republicans, became very isolationist. I'm sure you remember how that worked out for us.

As the old saying goes, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem". If we brought all our troops back to the US, and left the world to the Europeans and Asians, we would have absolutely no say in our future. I have been against the war in Iraq since before Bush even sent in the troops, but I was and still am in favor of our presence in Afghanistan. Had we not pulled a lot of our resources out of there to send to Iraq, we might have actually been at the point where we could also leave Afghanistan by now. Instead, we need to stay and work harder to eliminate the Taliban and rebuild Afghanistan. We have a far better chance there than we ever had in Iraq, and far more justification.

[nofltwlt]

How much would our image improve, at home and abroad, if we impeached Bush and Cheney. I'll tell you, if would be as if a prince kissed Sleeping Beauty and the evil spell would be broken.

[Lisette]

Oh, is that ever the truth !

[KQuark]

That number will dive lower if McCain is elected. The only reason it has gotten better is because they hope this country will elect a Democrat. The rest of the world just does not comprehend the Republican Party because no other country in the Western world has a large party that is as right wing as the Republicans. Face it Republicans have been bashing the UN and the rest of the western world especially Europe in a constant drumbeat since Reagan.

[nohat]

I am an American living in the UK, I've been here 8 years. And while I don't deny that our image needs improving, I would find some source for how bad ior good it actually is, other than the BBC. It is not a well-kept secret on this side of the pond, including all of Europe, that the BBC is viciously anti-American. Even countries who are unhapppy with us, frown upon some of the stories the BBC runs. No matter what happens anywhere in the world, the BBC finds a way to connect to America---making itself look cheap, in the process. They often tell half a story if it will make us look bad, for example, if both the EU and America are unhappy with some gov't or other, to the point of making loud noises about it, the BBC will report our unhappiness and loud noises and never mention the other country. It loves to isolate us.
The worst thing is the self-righteous attitude of the BBC journalists, edotors, general staff and the like. It is positively unbearable.
If the BBC did a poll for this finding that Huff has given us today, you can be assured that the way the question was put will have been designed to get the most negative answer---about America---possible.

[KQuark]

Please nohat you are a neocon. 99% of the western world is left of the current fascist Republican Party.

[DerekRC]

I spend alot of time in France as my wife is French. The negativity of the posters at the Huffingtonpost towards our government far exceeds the negativity of French people that I come into contact with. There seems to be a strong disconnect between what is published vs. reality.

Sarkozy was elected because of his positive views towards the United States, as well as his reformist intentions regarding the French welfare system and immigration issues.

Die hard liberals will always hate the United States when a Republican is in office. It' no surprise!

[research]

"The poll listed no margin of error."

Therefore the poll is meaningless.

[totalliberal]

Travel much?

[research]

Used to.

[Kalifornian]

research says:
"The poll listed no margin of error."

Therefore the poll is meaningless.

What a totally idiotic thing to say. Go to the bathroom somewhere else to drop your bowel movements.

[research]

So you think it's idiotic.

So you believe a land line poll in the first place.

a change of a few percent without knowing the polls' margin of error is truly

Meaningless,

as is your response.

[jinjinpinti]

It must have been the Bush-booing at the ball game...or maybe they just feel simpatico with us now that we have to pay the same ridiculous prices at the gas pump that they've enjoyed for years. If Teflon Johnnie McBoomBoom gets elected though, our approval rating will go right back into the sh*tter, toute suite!