Poll: Anti-government fervor up

[onehandle]

Americans have a more negative view of government today than they did a decade ago, or even a few years ago. Most say it focuses on the wrong things and lack confidence that it can solve big domestic problems; this general anti-Washington sentiment is helping to fuel a potential Republican takeover of Congress next month.

snip...

More broadly, a nationwide report card on the government shows barely passing grades: Washington was a C student in a poll 10 years ago. Today, more than four in 10 people give the government a D or F.

Most of those who see the country as headed off-course put "a great deal" of blame on the government. Overall, 55 percent of Americans say the government is not paying attention to the biggest issues. Similar percentages say the government does not use tax money wisely, is out of sync with their values and has not helped their families.

snip...

Nearly half of the 2,054 adults polled say the federal government threatens their personal liberties. There is a creeping sense - now shared by one in five Americans - that it is not possible for the federal government to be run well, given all the problems in the country.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/09/AR2010100903308.html

[bigdarryl]

1. Most Americans are full of SHIT they want government they just don't know it

Example if a person is robbed or there car is stolen what is the FIRST thing they do CALL THE POLICE that is a form of government.Or if you tell most Americans should we get rid of the military most if not all would say HELL NO another form of government or if you tell the senior citizens they WILLNOT get Social Security any more you would see protest in the streets like you never have in your life that's another form of Government. See that stupid poll didn't ask all those questions if they did the results would be different

[Lost4words]

2. fail,......

in a big way

[NC_Nurse]

3. The Repubs have succeeded in ruining it. When you elect people that hate

Govt. Thats what they do. Big surprise.

[clarence swinney]

4. Government Great in prior Decade

Full Employment
Middle Class gained
No major wars

THEN Hell On earth how can anyone vote for a Republican after Bush 8
Total Control for 6 years

C to B to O Who Fumbled The Ball???
numbers rounded

Clinton left Bush an 1800B Budget
Bush Left Obama a 3600 Budget

Clinton left Bush a Surplus
Bush left Obama a 1400 Billion Deficit.

Clinton left Bush a 5700B of Debt
Bush left Obama an 11,800B of Debt

Clinton left Bush a 70% increase in Gdp
Bush left Obama a 40% increase in Gdp.

Clinton left Bush a 19.8% of Gdp in Revenues
Bush left Obama a 14,8% of Gdp in Revenues

Clinton left Bush an 18.5% of Gdp in Expenditure
Bush left Obama a 24,7% of Gdp in Expenditure

Clinton left Bush a 237,000 net new jobs created per month
Bush left Obama a 31,000 lowest since Hoover.

Clinton left Bush Peace on Earth
Bush left Obama Hell on Earth Two disastrous wars

Clinton left Bush a President most highly rated of any peacetime President in Asia, Africa, Europe.
Bush left Obama the most hated President in history
Bush left Obama an Housing Tsunami and Financial Volcano
Bush left Obama, in 2008, an 8500B Bail Out Commitment
Bush left Obama his Takeover of Fannie/Freddie, AIG, and first bailout of Chrysler

[andym]

5. This is why we single payer wasn't on the table

This underlying fear of government, a direct result of Reagan, remains strong in the national mindset and is reflected in Congress. It is this idea that President Obama is trying to turn around by gingerly expanding government's role. In effect, the fate of progressivism hinges on how well the country recovers, and HCR actually works....

Fortunately there is a bit of cognitive dissonance at work here, many people think the government is inefficient, yet still will state that the government should help people through specific programs. That is why the polls on single-payer and the public option were relatively positive last year. The problem is that Republicans can easily use the negative image of government to quickly turn minds away from any "government takeover." People who feel government is taking away their freedoms are more likely than not conservatives.