You're right 90% think that the government pays for retirement (SS), healthcare (Medicaid, Medicare), housing for the poor (HUD) and general welfare (AFDC). They also think that the government creates jobs.
It's even worse then that. Two years ago while watching CSPAN (Washington Journal) a man called in to discuss the issue of whether the government should institute a proposed new social program to subsidize one thing or another for the poor. What he said has never left me and I have told the story often when making the point of how uninformed the majority of people really are. He said the following and this is an exact quote, I know because I immediately wrote it down, so amazed was I by what he said. He said:
"Before I answer the question, I would like to know if the government would fund this program with taxpayer money or it's own money"
Folks, it's true, if I'm lyin', I'm dyin'