A new Rasmussen Reports poll finds that 55% of Americans believe government funds should be "used to subsidize manufacturers in the United States through tax credits and other incentives."

This is further confirmation of a prevailing attitude that manufacturing is important to the U.S. economy.

The Alliance for American Manuafcturing (AAM) conducted a national poll last year that found a similar consensus for manufacturing's importance.  Some key findings:

• 62% say that that manufacturing is a “critical part of the American economy”;
• 86% favor a national manufacturing strategy “to make sure that economic, tax, labor and trade policies in this country work together to help support manufacturing…” (8% from 2010);
• 87% see a role for government in supporting manufacturing – 49% say “whatever is necessary” and another 38% for limited role of “incentives, and trade policy.”

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