Record High in U.S. Say Big Government Greatest Threat

[FarCenter]

PRINCETON, NJ -- Seventy-two percent of Americans say big government is a greater threat to the U.S. in the future than is big business or big labor, a record high in the nearly 50-year history of this question. The prior high for big government was 65% in 1999 and 2000. Big government has always topped big business and big labor, including in the initial asking in 1965, but just 35% named it at that time.

The latest update comes from a Dec. 5-8 poll. Gallup has documented a steady increase in concern about big government since 2009, rising from 55% in March 2009 to 64% in November 2011 and 72% today. This suggests that government policies specific to the period, such as the Affordable Care Act -- perhaps coupled with recent revelations of government spying tactics by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden -- may be factors.

Currently, 21% name big business as the greatest threat, while 5%, a record low, say big labor. The high point for big labor was 29% in 1965. No more than 11% of Americans have chosen big labor since 1995, clearly reflecting the decline of the labor movement in the United States in recent decades.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/166535/record-high-say-big-government-greatest-threat.aspx

[Lasher]

1. A grain of salt.

When asked about big government, do you think of the NSA or something else besides domestic social programs? There is a good chance you do. But rightwing talking heads are sure to claim this means you want trickle-down tax cuts and austerity for everybody else.

[winter is coming]

6. You'd almost think the poll was deliberately structured not to distinguish

between "Obamacare is too much government" and "NSA is too much government". And I would like to have a seen a statistic about how many people believe corporations have too little or too much influence on "big government".

[Bigmack]

2. Yes.... and more Americans...

... believe in angels than accept evolution.

Actually, more Americans believe in angels than believe Big Government is our biggest threat.

I believe the scientific term is... "fucking stupid".

[badtoworse]

3. Maybe people are finally waking up.

The size of government has concerned me for years

[geek tragedy]

4. We're lucky the Republicans are so insane.

This is a country that hates its own government. Hard for the anti-government party to lose elections with that advantage, but they find a way.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

Thomas Paine

[lonestarnot]

7. It is especially dangerous when richie rich runs the big gubmint and owns everything in site, even

other people.