Jim Geraghty has written a useful post on the NYT/CBS poll, but allow me to make a somewhat different point. Reporters Michael Cooper and Megan Thee-Brenan write:

A third of those surveyed viewed them favorably, a quarter viewed them unfavorably, and the rest said they were either undecided or had not heard enough about them. But the nationwide poll found that embattled public employee unions have the support of most Americans — and most independents — as they fight the efforts of newly elected Republican governors in Wisconsin and Ohio to weaken their bargaining powers, and the attempts of governors from both parties to cut their pay or benefits.

Note that while 58 percent have an opinion, the rest are undecided or haven’t heard enough. So what does it mean when we’re told that embattled public employee unions have the support of most Americans?

Americans oppose weakening the bargaining rights of public employee unions by a margin of nearly two to one: 60 percent to 33 percent.

That 60 percent presumably includes the 33 percent who view unions favorably, and also a large chunk of Americans who have no opinion or who acknowledge that they don’t know enough about unions and, presumably, the extent of their bargaining rights.

Some context would be helpful. In Wisconsin, the governor really is trying to weaken the bargaining rights of public employees. He would like to weaken them almost to the point where state employees in Wisconsin are treated like federal employees.

Should state government employees have the same bargaining rights as federal employees?

One wonders about the answer we’d get to that question.

Those surveyed said they opposed, 56 percent to 37 percent, cutting the pay or benefits of public employees to reduce deficits, breaking down along similar party lines.

Do you support or oppose giving state governments more flexibility to decrease pay for some workers and increase it for others?

Recall that Indiana, where the governor dramatically weakened the bargaining rights of public employee unions, employees identified as the most productive have received large pay increases.

Regardless, I think it is safe to assume that the NYT/CBS poll will draw considerable attention.