Most think government is doing too much, poll shows

Alex Wong

(CBS News) Following the Democratic National Convention, President Obama gained a slight edge in polls over Mitt Romney, but a new survey shows that most Americans still think the government is meddling in too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses -- a belief that aligns more closely with Romney's campaign.

According to Gallup, 54 percent of Americans say the government is doing too much, while just 39 percent say it should be doing more to solve the nation's problems. The poll was conducted Sept. 6-9, overlapping with the Democratic convention in Charlotte, N.C.

At the convention, Mr. Obama called this year's presidential election "the clearest choice of any time in a generation." While Romney and Republicans have called for reductions in regulations and the repeal of sweeping pieces of legislation like Mr. Obama's health care law - the Affordable Care Act - the president has tried to cast their preferences for limited government as too extreme.

"This is what the election comes down to," Mr. Obama said. "Over and over, we've been told by our opponents that bigger tax cuts and fewer regulations are the only way, that since government can't do everything, it should do almost nothing."

The Gallup poll shows that, unsurprisingly, views on the role of government are partisan. Two-thirds of Democrats think the government should do more while 82 percent of Republicans say it's doing too much. Among independents, 62 percent say it's doing too much.

Over the past 20 years, there have been only a few instances in which more Americans have told Gallup that the government could be doing more -- in the fall of 1992, in early 1993 and October 2001.

In a separate question, most Americans -- 51 percent -- told Gallup that the federal government currently has too much power. Another 40 percent said it has about the right amount, and 8 percent said it has too little.

Again, the responses are partisan. Republicans are more likely to say the federal government has too much power, but from 2002 to 2008 -- under a Republican president -- Democrats were more likely to say it had too much power.

[morninginamerica]

Q:What do Sandra Fluke and Big Bird have in common?
A:They both have the ability to take care of themselves, but insist someone else do it for them.

I like very much Romneys' criteria: "Is it worth borrowing money from the Chinese to continue?" This is practical, logical, and the way we run our budgets at home. Product sales for Sesame Street products are huge- and could/would replace government funding handily. Yeah, I'd say at the age of 43 Big Bird should be taking care of himself. Maybe he can roomy with Elmo and tickle him. . .

[randysanders]

Since the independents may well be the group that decides this election, the 62% of independents aren't willing to actually determine which problems in America need to be fixed, which don't, and the 62% of independents in this poll aren't willing to actually resolve the issues either. Naturally,if the population in America has grown it would need more representatives in government. That fact alone means more government not less. In the larger picture, t deficit has been neglected by the media because they aren't willing to look to the causes of a national deficit caused mostly by State and Local governments. That means governors and mayors are finding enough investors to help their communities. why???

[randysanders]

That means governors and mayors aren't finding enough investors to help their communities. Why aren't these possible investors helping America more?

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

It is not state/local governments that caused the deficit. It was (is) the bush tax cuts and two unfunded wars, and we are still mired in the Afghanistan War.

[hhandyman]

if they think its too much then please resign and leave the nation to those willing to work in Washington not vacation after 8 days work and let the nations credit rating drop another three or 4 points to junk bond status.. that is what the Cantor schedule will do skip work till after the election.. Please leave your resignations on the desk if you take vacation from your public service.

[ThomasSense]

The poll question is too broad. I'm glad that the EPA regulates the emissions of power plants. The sulfur dioxide (acid rain) was killing lakes and the life in them. All the emissions cause respiratory illnesses to anyone downwind. The mercury can cause birth defects. I'm glad that the FDA can create regulations that help them trace contaminated cantaloupes to their source. I'm glad that the MSHA can regulate coal mines to increase coal miner safety. Don't we depend on the CDC to find the roots of a disease? The SEC regulates banks. The FBI again has stopped a terrorist bomber. A jobs program can retrain a person to a job in demand. The alphabet of government agencies all has a vital role in protecting Americans.
If I lost my job, my family would have to sell our house. A health crisis like cancer or a debilitating car accident could equally demand drastic life changes. Government through food stamps or Section 8 housing or unemployment insurance can be a life line to keep families from falling into despair. An auto industry bailout kept hundreds of thousands employed. Government stimulus turned an economy around from a free fall.
I agree there has to be limits to help. But if families are to return to productive secure lives they do need help.

[Jaylah54200]

I agree. Our government has stuck its nose into a lot of things he has no business concerning itself with.

Like who people love.

What they do in the privacy of their own bedrooms.

What women do with their own uteri.


We can start there, and then talk about where to go from there.

[ThomasSense]

Drum: Government isn't running a health care plan. My state government is forming a marketplace of private insurers and their plans. The government is forcing Walmart to either insure its workers or subsidize this marketplace. I'm sure my employer is going to keep the same health insurer.

[Joe_AZ]

The Federal Government should do fewer things and concentrate on doing them much better.

[1notrub11]

Agreed.

[eroteme2]

Government doing too much? This is the downhill road we are presently on. If Obama is reelected hold on tight, there will be little to restrain His taking from taking more and more control of our lives. Will not surprise if banning 32oz sugary soda containers goes natioinwide. It would be interesting to see how our government might keep us from slurping down two 16oz sugary sodas instead of using one used to be 32oz sugary soda container. But we are headed forward! Perhaps there will be no problem at all if sugary sodas themselves are outlawed.

[Jaylah54200]

You do know that Bloomberg (the one that started the ban on sodas) was a Republican until 2007, when he declared himself an independent to distance himself from a sinking ship, right?

[retmw1]

Seems it's a republican that banned the 32oz sugary sodas. Seems it's republicans that want to restrict freedoms and don't want a seperation of church and state.

[FerdFerkle]

Yes the government is and that's why you vote Obama OUT of the white house.

[formerlyluvnut]

Uh YEA! Like taking care of the citizens of foreign countries. Foreign aid is killing us financially and Americans are too stupid to realize it. DUH.

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

Again, I have to correct. Foreign Aid is ~ 1% of the federal budget. What has sent our government into debt is two unfunded wars and the bush tax cuts.

[RetiredArmy_Nurse]

Wrong tb, it has been the two bush wars plus lowered revenues thanks to the bush tax cuts. We had same thing happen with reagan when he reduced taxes and raised military spending. The result was that reagan caused 65% of America's total national debt since we became a nation 200 years earlier by end of 1988. America has to spend for defense, cost of government & its employees, SS & medicare costs. These are the basic cost of our government's business. It does not go down because that is what it costs just to be a nation. I'm not certain of the total cost of bush's wars, but I retired a month prior to 9/11 so my salary is not included. As for my retirement it was well earned with near 3 decades of service to include a combat tour. I always find it so curious that neocons begrudge my military retirement that I earned.

[eqreynolds1985]

Beware misleading polls!

It's way to easy to read too much (what you want) in a poll like this. What does it mean, "government does too much?" Most people ALWAYS think government is doing too much. I'm as liberal as they come and I also think government is doing too much.

The problem lies with the poll question itself. Everyone LOVES the government they need and HATES the government they don't.

Furthermore what government? Federal, state, municipal? Municipal governments are out of control, states are struggling, and the federal is trying to keep us all afloat.