48% Think Spending Cuts Could Trigger Violence (13% very likely)

Rasmussen Reports ^ | August 12, 2011

[markomalley]

Nearly one-out-of-two Americans (48%) think that cuts in government spending are at least somewhat likely to lead to violence in the United States, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But that includes just 13% who feel it’s Very Likely.

Nearly as many Adults (44%), however, believe violence as the result of spending cuts is unlikely, but only 12% say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Americans under 50 raise the possibility of violence more than their elders. Most adults not affiliated with either party (58%) think spending cuts are likely to trigger violence, compared to 46% of Republicans and 42% of Democrats.

Tax hikes and a crashing stock market are seen as less incendiary in the minds of most Americans. Thirty-seven percent (37%) think increased taxes are at least somewhat likely to lead to violence, but 59% view that as unlikely. This includes 14% who say such violence is Very Likely and 20% who believe it’s Not At All Likely.

Similarly, 35% feel that it’s at least somewhat likely that a crashing stock market will lead to violence in the United States, with 13% who say it’s Very Likely. However, 60% say violence from a crashing market is unlikely, including 16% who say it’s Not At All Likely.

In early January, following the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the killing of six others in Arizona, 45% of Likely U.S. Voters were at least somewhat concerned that those opposed to President Obama’s policies will resort to violence, but 52% did not share that concern.

[douginthearmy]

CWII starts the day the welfare checks bounce.

[HungarianGypsy]

Meanwhile, I have a friend who says if the government cut spending back to a 1997 budget, it would balance itself quickly. He also thought a 1% sales tax that went directly to the deficit would get it paid off. He’s not worried about violence. It’s a pity people like my friend aren’t in charge.

[Cheetahcat]

Bring it on!This is nothing but a covert threat of more robbery.

[Sequoyah101]

Lots of searching for support instead of illumination. Support for taxes, excuses for economy failing, support for not cutting entitlements.... crap.

[mlocher]

Sounds like someone is trying to paint independents as racist, saying that this is the “expectation” of the under class. By painting them as racist, they can then get Obama the “guilt” vote.

[all the best]

So are we to have government by the threats of thugs?

[GonzoGOP]

Count me in the Very Likely group. It doesn't mean don't want the cuts. It just means you have to be ready for the riot. The cuts have to happen, there is no money remaining.

Children throw temper tantrums when you discipline them. Good parents accept that as part of doing business and continue to instill discipline until the child realizes that the tantrums serve no purpose. Of course Liberals give in to the tantrums and hence end up with spoiled, undisciplined children who riot when they are told to go get a job.

As "The One" said, time to eat your peas.

[WayneS]

Violence is most definitely not my first (or even second, third, fourth...) choice, but on the other hand, I do not think Mr. Jefferson was engaging in hyperbole when he wrote: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants”.

[PGR88]

Just like a heroin addict, who we know will get violent when their smack is taken away.

That proves its too late already.

[WOBBLY BOB]

like rats backed into a corner and their free cheeze threatened.

could get really interesting when/if they take away the home mortgage deduction.

[pyx]

There is no different between this and the threat,

'Give us more money or we riot and loot !'

[I cannot think of a name]

The funny thing is, every politician, of every ilk, loves to get up and say, “we will never submit to terrorist blackmail.”

Yet that's exactly what we did in the 60’s when morons started setting fire to cities. And apparently, a significant portion of the population seems willing to do it again.

No wonder the imbeciles in the Middle East keep using terrorism - it appears to work. It will be interesting to see how England reacts to the latest madness. Will new "social" programs be announced?

[jospehm20]

There is already a lot of violence from the leech class and the checks are still coming. I would not want to be around a major city when the checks stop.

[rightwingextremist1776]

You can count on it....this is how commies roll.

[himno hero]

Just a b/s media sample...... these are the guys who support Obama.... overwhelmingly... with no respect for rights, other peoples rights. Yet they will cry a river when their “rights” are impeded, even turn to violence.
I maintain it is a b/s misrepresentative sampling.

[Steel Wolf]

The interesting thing I'm getting from this is that 45% of Americans in January thought that people might resort to violence to resist Obama's policies, and now, 48% of Americans think that Obama's policies might lead to violence.

So, either the entire country thinks that the 'other' side is ready for violence, but not their own, OR, one half of the country thinks that both sides are ready for violence.

Or some combination thereof. Point being, these are very high and almost parallel numbers.

[WOBBLY BOB]

Another spin on the ‘pay us now or pay us later’ BS that school administrators love to use.
(IE: give us more $ or kids will end up in prison and you’ll pay even more )

IMHO, many schools ARE already like prisons.

[Tallguy]

“CWII starts the day the welfare checks bounce.”

More like “Night of the Living Dead”. The violence will not be that organized.

[Fu-fu2]

Sounds like the 60’s all over again. Johnson gave us the “Great Society” and we all know how “well” that worked out....It’s looking like we are going to have to go thru a painful process to reverse past mistakes.