SURVEY RESULTS 1. The explosive growth in Internet is raising privacy concerns among consumers who worry about the collection and use of their personal information by some technology companies like Google, Facebook and others.  To what extend do you trust online companies with your personal information? A.    Completely trust (2%) B.     Somewhat trust (33%) C.     [...]

A national consumer survey conducted by the American Consumer Institute finds that the majority of consumers support stronger privacy protections.  Consumers expressed concerns about the collection and use of their personal information by tech companies like Google and Facebook, with 62% not trusting these companies with their information.  Of the 800 consumers surveyed, 33% said [...]

1. Artists, authors, manufacturers, and inventors use copyrights, trademarks and patents to protect their products from copycats.  Do you agree or disagree that these protections are a good way to encourage innovation and creativity? A. Strongly agree (58%) B. Agree somewhat (25%) C. Neutral, neither agree nor disagree (3%) D. Disagree somewhat (5%) E. Strongly disagree (5%) F. DK/Other [...]

A national consumer survey conducted by the American Consumer Institute (ACI) finds that the vast majority of consumers support stronger intellectual property protections against trafficking of counterfeit goods.  The survey of 800 consumers found 82% of consumers agreed that counterfeit goods, such as knock-off products, pirated software and imitation pharmacy drugs hurt the economy, with [...]

Brent Wilkes, Executive Director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, spoke at ACI’s Capitol Hill sponsored event.  Other speakers included Peter Cramton (University of Maryland Economics Professor) and Steve Grist (Assistant Attorney General of Virginia).

It’s hard to imagine a more transparent epistle than the one Sean Shaw sent to the Tallahassee Democrat. He was attempting to recast an op-ed from Steve Pociask with the American Consumer Institute which pointed to Shaw as being, well…transparent. Pociask alleged that trial lawyers, especially the former state Insurance Consumer Advocate, were manipulating the [...]

WIRELESS TAXATION  SURVEY RESULTS    1. Should consumer cell phone tax rates be higher, lower or the same as the sales tax rates on other goods and services?             A. Higher (2%)             B. Lower (34%)             C. The same (49%)             D. DK/Refused (15%)   2. Would it be fair or unfair to require [...]

A national consumer survey conducted by the American Consumer Institute finds 89% of consumers oppose the imposition of higher tax rates on wireless services compared to what is levied on other goods and services.  When consumers were asked what the tax rate should be, 49% said wireless tax rate should be the same as the [...]

Euro Zone members are pointing fingers, lecturing on austerity and mugging for cameras by convening riots in the streets and gatherings of politicians.  U.S. consumers just want to hear the “prepare for the worst” commentary, as did Houseman:   And while the sun and moon endure Luck’s a chance, but trouble’s sure, I’d face it as [...]

As most anyone can see, federal spending has gotten out of control. As you read this, the so called “Super Committee” is looking for ways to cut billions from the federal budget in an attempt get spending under control and, hopefully, right the drifting ship that is our economy.  While most agree that Congress needs [...]