Posted on 03/05/2009 8:26:48 AM PST by Reagan Man
Barack Obama may symbolize a shift away from the Reagan-era creed of small government. But the majority of Americans have not yet followed this ideological turn, based upon recent months of polling.
In the president's effort to push for the most expansive federal role since Lyndon Johnson, his obstacle may not be convincing Republicans but convincing the public.
About six out of 10 Americans still agree with Reagan, according to Rasmussen national polls taken in late February and early October.
Reagan's line struck a chord a quarter of a century ago because Americans' view of government had changed. Gallup asked in 1937 and 1981: "Which theory of government do you favor -- concentration of power in the federal government or concentration of power in the state government?" In Reagan's day, a majority of Americans favored power being concentrated in the states. During FDR's presidency, 1937, just a third of Americans held the same view. Even then only a plurality of Americans, 46 percent, favored concentrating power in Washington.
A majority of Americans have, in fact, favored a smaller federal government, rather than larger, from the outset of Bill Clinton's presidency to the outset of Obama's, according to ABC News/Washington Post polling.
Indeed, Obama represents a different kind of Democrat. It was Clinton who pledged that the era of big government was over. Obama represents big government's return.
Americans are with him in part. Multiple polls show that a large majority of Americans now support national health insurance. But historical data suggests that even as the public backs one measure, Obama may eventually face blow back against the broad sweep of his agenda.
By autumn 1966 Gallup found that more Americans had an unfavorable opinion of the Great Society than favorable, by a margin of 44 to 32 percent.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
By autumn 1966 Gallup found that more Americans had an unfavorable opinion of the Great Society than favorable, by a margin of 44 to 32 percent.
In fact, since 1965 Gallup has asked Americans whether big business, big labor or big government is the "biggest threat to the country in the future." Americans have picked big government as the answer every year, including as recently as early December.
Are you listening, RNC???????
We won’t get smaller government unless about 80% of the politicians in DC are all replaced at the same time.
Ronald Reagan RIP
Tomorrow would have been his birthday
Feb 06, 1911 - June 5, 2004
...’Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same’.....
Man up FReepers
TCM is playing Reagan films today. I watched a bit of one as I prepared for work this morning and doing so made me sentimental for the Reagan years.
And, to paraphrase I believe HL Mencken, they will support it until they get it, good and hard.
Reagan is the TCM Star of the Month -— every Wednesday night -— March. 11, 18, 25.
“Tomorrow would have been his birthday
Feb 06, 1911 - June 5, 2004”
You are a month late, we are in the month of March. :0)
Thanks! I can’t wait to watch some of my favourite classics of his.
Americans want “free” health care, a “safety net,” “free” day care, and guarantees that nothing bad will ever happen to them. Americans also want smaller government.
As a group, Americans are stupid.
Man, how time flies- I better get my taxes done
Can you say voter FRAUD!!!!!!
Health care = 68% YES. Housing: 66% YES. Job: 52% YES.
Obamanomics at work.
Isn't it a shame that most of the elected officials in the Republican party are somewhere in those 4 in 10 Americans who do not agree with Reagan? Unfortunately, they've always been there IMO, but most were happy to ride Reagan's principles to victory, fooling voters, and then govern like the liberals they really are.
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