Rasmussen--> America Says Government is TOO BIG

In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. President Ronald Reagan- January 1981

Americans may be longing for a return to the vision for the country orated by Ronald Reagan during his first inaugural address. In a brand new survey released by Rasmussen, 60% of Americans think that the Government has too much power and has too much money. When you put these results on top of the overwhelming approval for the tea parties, it seems that it may be time for our government to sit up and listen:

60% Say Government Has Too Much Power, Too Much Money

Sixty percent (60%) of Americans say the federal government has too much power and too much money, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Just nine percent (9%) say the government has too little power and money. Twenty-four percent (24%) believe the government has about the right amount of both.

Not surprisingly, the Political Class sees things a lot differently. While 85% of Mainstream Americans say the government has too much power and money, just two percent (2%) of the Political Class agree. Nearly one-our-of-four members (24%) of the Political Class, in fact, believe the government has too little money and power, but 68% say it has about the right amount of each.

While slightly more than half of those working for both the government and private industry say the government is too big, 79% of entrepreneurs feel that way.


Republicans and adults not affiliated with either major political party are far more concerned about the government’s size and wealth than Democrats are. Eighty-eight percent (88%) of Republicans and 62% of unaffiliateds say the federal government has too much power and money. Among Democrats, however, just 35% agree, while 44% think the size of government is about right.

Those who earn less than $40,000 per year are more wary of the size of the government than are those who earn more. Sixty-two percent (62%) of investors say the government has too much money and power, compared to 57% of non-investors.

The Political Class and Mainstream classifications are determined by the answers to three questions measuring general attitudes about government. Most Americans trust the judgment of the public more than political leaders, view the federal government as a special interest group, and believe that big business and big government work together against the interests of investors and consumers. Only seven percent (7%) share the opposite view and can be considered part of the Political Class.

On many issues, the gap between the Political Class and Mainstream Americans is bigger than the gap between Mainstream Republicans and Democrats. When it comes to the question of whether the federal government has too much power and money, 94% of Mainstream Republicans say yes along with 72% of Mainstream Democrats.