23% Favor Government with More Services, Higher Taxes

Rasmussen Reports
Mar. 04, 2010

Just 23% of U.S. voters say they prefer a more active government with more services and higher taxes over one with fewer services and lower taxes, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This finding has remained fairly consistent since regular tracking on this question began in November 2006.

Two-thirds (66%) of voters prefer a government with fewer services and lower taxes. In August at the height of the congressional town hall controversy over the health care plan, 70% felt that way.

Eighty-eight percent (88%) of Republicans and 68% of voters not affiliated with either major political party favor a government with fewer services and lower taxes. Democrats are more closely divided: 38% like a more active government with more services and higher taxes, while 45% prefer one with fewer services and lower taxes.

Sixty-three percent (63%) of liberals favor a bigger, more activist government. Eighty-four percent (84%) of conservatives and 61% of moderates prefer a smaller government instead.

Seventy-four percent (74%) of all voters say American society is generally fair and decent, up slightly from last month. Just 19% feel society is unfair and discriminatory.

Whites and voters of other ethnicities are more inclined than African-Americans to believe U.S. society is generally fair and decent.

However, when it comes to how President Obama views society, voters are almost evenly divided: 43% say he views society as fair and decent, while 42% feel the president views society as unfair and discriminatory. Just before Obama assumed office in January 2009, 49% said he viewed society as fair and decent, and 33% said he viewed society as unfair and discriminatory.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of voters say America's best days are in the future, down nine points from the previous survey in late January. However, past polling finds that voter optimism is usually higher at the beginning of a new year. The latest finding is consistent with levels measured up to the end of last year.

The plurality (44%) say America's best days are in the past, showing little change since regular tracking on this question began in early November 2006.

Democrats tend to feel the country's best days are ahead of us, while Republicans and unaffiliated voters are inclined to feel otherwise.

Recent polling also finds that 25% now say the country is heading in the right direction, the lowest level of voter confidence since Obama assumed office last year.

Americans' views of the short- and long-term economic future are gloomier these days than they have been at any time since January of last year.

Only 48% of adults now think it is possible for anyone in the United States to work their way out of poverty, the lowest level of confidence in 14 months. Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree and say it's not possible, but 17% more aren't sure.

Most Americans (58%) say the current state of the economy has caused more stress in their family.