Why do so many Americans hold somewhat volatile public opinions about foreign affairs?

Answer 1

I think there might be varied opinions about this question, but, rather than volatile public opinions about foreign affairs, Americans in general have been accused of having widespread disinterest, apathy, and lack of knowledge about foreign affairs. For example, few Americans could say where--what countries-- Hilary Clinton had visited in the last year, or for that matter, what countries our President has visited during his Presidency. Few Americans could summarize the US's general foreign affairs policies or US's goals with other countries.

In general, over the last decade in particular, many Americans feel strongly about:

• The wholesale loss of American jobs to overseas workers, including white collar and labor jobs.
• The US Military's continued involvement in war, currently in the Middle East.
• The US government's leniency on big corporations, many of which outsourced American jobs while receiving high US tax breaks.
• The US owing so much money to the Japanese government.
• That the US seems to be "too nice" to other countries we deem as allies, even if those allies fail to make substantial commitments to US interests.
• Many US citizens worry that our Constitution is becoming diluted as the US tries to be too accepting of other cultures who want to live in or work in the US.
• Many Americans believe other countries are destroying US economy, for example, Middle East countries (oil) and Asian countries (technology).