77% See Politicians Unwillingness to Cut Government Spending as Bigger Problem

Rasmussen Reports ^ | Friday, May 22, 2009 | Rasmussen

[angkor]

77% See Politicians Unwillingness to Cut Government Spending as Bigger Problem Than Voter Resistance to Tax Hikes

Friday, May 22, 2009

For nearly four-out-of-five U.S. voters, the problem is not their unwillingness to pay taxes. It’s their elected representatives’ refusal to cut the size of government.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of voters say the bigger problem in the United States is the unwillingness of politicians to control government spending. Just 14% say the problem is that voters are unwilling to pay enough in taxes, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

These findings parallel results in California just before voters there rejected several ballot initiatives aimed at raising taxes. After that vote on Tuesday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested the state might need federal financial help, but voters nationwide oppose any bailouts for California and other economically troubled states.

Just 28% of all voters say, generally speaking, that increases in government spending help the economy, down seven points from February. Fifty-three percent (53%) now believe spending increases hurt the economy, and seven percent (7%) say they have no impact.

[angkor]

Interesting polls at Rasmussen this week.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/

[angkor]

More Rasmussen.

[cripplecreek]

Count me among them.

[Man50D]

77% see replacing politicians who refuse to cut spending as biggest solution.

[Evil Slayer]

Let's see....if you are an alcoholic and want to kick the habit, just keep on drinking. If you want to lose weight, just keep on eating those chocolate cakes. If you want to save money just keep buying more. Learn from the government. They are so smart.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Since only 14% think the problem is the with the voters, and certainly a few whites took that position it is virtually certain that most black and Hispanic voters are on our side. (I am not a premium Rasmussen member, so I can’t check)

[kittymyrib]

A national tax rebellion should work against Democrats, but they are fortunate to have no cohesive conservative movement opposing them. Conservatives could ride this wave to victory in 2010 if they had any kind of leadership. Perhaps the TEA Party movement in each state could provide the organization that the moribund GOP lacks.

[REPANDPROUDOFIT]

Government jobs are seldom cut, even in a disastrous downturn like we are now experiencing. When we read of a "cut", it usually means people are being moved around to other departments. In fact, Obama is adding thousands of people to the government payroll - health plan, energy plan, etc. And, once jobs are added, 90% of them will never go away.

It isn't just the salaries. The legacy cost associated with each employee is enormous. I would love to see someone do a "study" showing the average cost of a government employee throughout his/her career, with and without legacy costs. (Why not? We spend a fortune on so many ridiculous studies. This one might actually be of interest to some people.)

[AD from SpringBay]

This is a major tenet of conservatism which, we have been told for a decade, is dead. All someone has to do is run as a conservative, unparalyzed by media-fear, and they will win in a landslide.

[glasseye]

If the Pubbies don’t grab this ball and run with it they are dumb as sticks....

Which they are.

Unfortunately.

[Renkluaf]

Rocket Science!

[mek1959]

I’m telling you, there’s a 16th and 17th Amendment revolution coming and this data confirms the work that is being laid. These politicians, in their arrogance, are never going to know what hit them when the States take away their power in the not too distant future. Hopefully, it will come soon enough before they do too much more damage.

[Walrus]

If anyone thinks there’s a nickel’s worth of difference between an incumbent Republican and an incumbent Democrat, he is simply not paying attention.

Every incumbent — and that means YOUR incumbent -— must be thrown out before there can be any hope for positive change.

resist...resist...resist

[pnh102]

The problem stems from the fact that too many Americans, sadly, love big government. I am sure most of those people would be all for cutting government programs which benefit others but not those which benefit themselves personally.

[rod1]

Yes. Right now the RNC and Rhino politicians like McCain are like the teams the Halem Globtrotters play in their exhibition games or one of the pro wrestlers. There for entertainment puposes only.

[PeterPrinciple]

Conservatives could ride this wave to victory in 2010 if they had any kind of leadership.

---

A dog chases a lot of cars but what would he do if he caught one. He never thought it through.

You would have to be one tough old bird to do what really needs to be done. Cheney is the only one I can see doing it so far.

[Dahoser]

The problem stems from the fact that too many Americans, sadly, love big government. I am sure most of those people would be all for cutting government programs which benefit others but not those which benefit themselves personally.

Nailed it!

[ohhhh]

To bad they that so many of the 77% voted for the liar and thief Obama.

[DemonDeac]

Here is the issue with the American electorate in general and spending. They want less spending but they also love being promised new programs. They love to hear about cutting waste but the second a politician details where the cuts would be people start to freak out. The average dummy wants to have his cake and eat it too. Thats why we keep electing reckless spenders.

[ohhhh]

[This is a major tenet of conservatism which, we have been told for a decade, is dead.]

I do not believe conservatism is dead, rather, the republican GOP is dead as their are just to many liberals who are in the positions of political influence and control therein.
Barrel of rotten apples.