Public Belief That Government Is Doing Too Much Is on the Rise

2 years ago

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Fifty-seven percent of Americans believe that the government is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses, and 45 percent say there is too much government regulation of business and industry, according to a Gallup poll conducted Aug. 31-Sept. 2.

Those figures, the highest Gallup has polled in a decade, come in the aftermath of last year's huge economic stimulus and Wall Street bailout measures, the rescue packages for major U.S. automakers and in the midst of the Obama administration's push for an overhaul of the health care system.

"These actions, and the recognition that some failed businesses, particularly those in the investment-banking sector, have previously operated without much government oversight, could in theory have caused an increased appreciation for governmental regulation," Gallup said. "That has not occurred."

On the question of whether government is doing too many things that should be left to the private sector, 38 percent came down on the side that government should do more. On whether government is involved in too much regulation of business, 27 percent felt its role was about right and 24 percent said it was doing too little.

Eighty percent of Republicans believe government is doing too much to try and solve the country's problems; they are joined by 63 percent of independents. Democrats believe by 62 percent to 32 percent that government should do more.

The percentage of Republicans who say that there is too much government regulation of business jumped from 56 percent last year to 70 percent in the new survey. Independents feeling that way increased from 38 percent to 50 percent. The number of Democrats holding that view is 21 percent, a slight decline from last year.

Filed Under: Economy, Polls, Obama Administration, Poll Watch

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