[Maelstorm]

I couldn't find this posted so it is very relevant. Back in 2010 only 58% of Americans believed that the federal government had too much power. Now its 60%. Let's for a moment ask ourselves why the GOP are not effectively capitalizing on this increased distrust of big govt power? The same indicators that the GOP rode to victory on in 2010 are even more pronounced today. The difference is the GOP is not united and is sending mixed messages and is not speaking to that inherent very real skepticism of federal power in the electorate. The key to GOP wins is in tapping into this skepticism. Its not the Tea Party that is the problem. People only have retreated from self id with the Tea Party because of the media filter not because their core beliefs of the role of government has changed. The GOP needs to wake up and start running hard on this stuff. Not just speaking in monotone and trying way too hard not to be seen as a radical. Nothing is radical about limited government and more power to the people over their own lives. Why in the hell can't the GOP articulate this very simple resonant message that the electorate is already there waiting for them on.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Unfortunately, they like it that way.

[Viennacon]

2014 could be another 2010 wave IF the GOP could get their act together

[Paladin2]

We need to calculate a Federal Government BMI index and show that the US is way overweight compared to its betters (Switzerland comes to mind).

[B4Ranch]

I am laughing. So you really believe there is two parties to our government?

[Billthedrill]

There will be a point where that 60% figures it’s too powerful to resist. Who does resist will be much less than 60%.

[BraveMan]

Hmm . . .

They didn’t ask me. Why, I wonder . . .

[MNnice]

When 47% of the people pay no income taxes, they couldn’t care less about your call for lower taxes. And when tens of millions are on some form of government assistance, they don’t want to hear your plan for smaller government. That’s just the facts.

It’s hard to win against Santa Claus.

[lonestar67]

It’s a good question. The problem is primarily articulating a mechanism for limiting federal government power.

Here are some possibilities :

1. Return to the 1974 Budget control act and end the zero line budgeting process that guarnatees automatic program funding increases.

2. Some of the Levin liberty amendments on taxation, spending and such

3. Win the House and the Senate for Republicans. Not nearly enough is made of how Republican control of all of Congress is the last time the nation ran a surplus. I know some will quibble about brief bouts of republican control under Bush but switches made that largely inoperable compared to the House sweep of 94 and asending Republican control of the Senate in the late 1990s. A Republican senate would change the federal government in a big way.

4. Adopt budget models found in states with surpluses such as Texas. This would include legislator limits on talking to parties while legislation is pending.

5. Adopt an energy policy mirrored after other nation and state policies that produce growth and revenue. Offer a relatively deregulated view of fracking in exchange for massive treasury infusions gained by becoming a fossil fuel super state that dwarfs Saudi Arabia. Fracking makes that more than possible if a federal policy could usurp local enviro radicals. Moreover, the policy could boost US GDP growth rates above 4% which would almost instantly destroy the deficit.

Essentially a federal policy of drill baby drill. Realize that all of the current boom is limited to private lands. Opening federal holdings would be the death knell of OPEC and the beginning of a more than ONE TRILLION DOLLAR annual industry in the United States.

6. Creative federalism. Look at Republican states and derive federal policies that mirror their legislative and fiscal policies. Spin out block grants of entrenched federal programs to the states.

[Jack Hydrazine]

America is growing increasingly conservative.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I think Obummer might have shot himself in the foot during the shut down. He should have done everything he could to make sure things stayed working for the most part but kept pointing out that things were much slower without all the manpower needed. Things were getting a bit shabby at the monuments because of the lack of necessary personal.

Then when anyone complained about the fedgov being too big or intrusive he could have dismissed it as the ranting of paranoids.

However he went out of his way to point out the the fedgov is not only way too involved in everything but that they can be used to make life unpleasant if King Poutypants decides to stamp his wittle foots and throw a tantrum.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Americans' Belief That Gov't Is Too Powerful at Record Level

WHO WROTE THAT FREAKIN HEADLINE?

It should read:

A record level of Americans believe that their government is too powerful.

[R0CK3T]

This is why Cruz won and won big. People know he is correct and the Gov is way to powerful and this opinion will vastly expand as their lives are beaten by the waves of a failed Ozombiecare.

[Tzimisce]

Americans keep voting for it.

So what do you want me to say?

[Pining_4_TX]

What the American people say in a poll doesn’t always translate into a corresponding action. If you ask people if government is too powerful, most people will say yes just because they are ticked off at politicians right now. Ask them if they want to give up their own government goodies to reduce government power, and you’ll get a different answer.

An overwhelming majority also say they want to see all of Congress tossed out of office, and yet, almost all incumbents win re-election over and over again.

Polls that ask vague questions about beliefs are meaningless. Polls about individual candidates at election time tend to be more accurate, whether we like them or not.

[1010RD]

We need small government conservatives to reach out to the Millenials and remake the party.