Rasmussen: 66% Of Americans Prefer Smaller Government That Does Less
I want to believe these results, but I’m withholding judgment until the public starts actually casting their ballots this way.
Sixty-six percent (66%) of U.S. voters prefer a smaller government with fewer services and lower taxes over a more active government with more services and higher taxes.
That’s the second highest finding of the year: In August at the height of the congressional town hall controversies over the health care plan, 70% felt that way.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% prefer a government with more services and higher taxes. Eleven percent (11%) aren’t sure which is best.
Eighty-eight percent (88%) of Republicans and 63% of voters not affiliated with either major party like a smaller government better. Democrats are more narrowly divided: 51% favor a smaller government, but 37% opt for a larger, more activist government.
Maybe we’re seeing a new shift in the American electorate. Maybe this is that awakened “sleeping giant.” I could be persuaded to believe that, but in the past most Americans are only nominally against big government spending. When you talk about spending (and the debts and deficits that spending creates) in general terms its hard to find a single American who isn’t in favor of less. But when you start talking about specific spending, well suddenly that’s a different matter.
Because, sadly, far too many in this country seem more than happy to receive “services” and other goodies from the government as long as someone else pays for them.
