This is a Pew poll and it is the first time they have managed to get more wanted a bigger government than a smaller government.
So we can rest assured we’ve not actually quite crossed that appalling tipping point yet.
But two thirds of Americans want more federal money spent on education? How about educating them on the Constitution!
Not to worry, according to the article they polled 630 repubs vs 771 dems. As usual, they poll to get the results they want.
I think what you get is a splintering effect, where a lot of people who oppose more spending in general nonetheless support more spending on “MY favorite program”.
I saw this two decades ago when I was working with farmers. They put on a great show about being the most rock-ribbed, down-to-earth conservative patriotic Americans. But bring up the subject of cutting their favorite ag subsidy, and katy-bar-the-door, they were ready to go to WAR with you.
Thus Veterans oppose more spending, EXCEPT on veterans programs. The bulge of aging baby boomers lines-up behind Social Security and Medicare spending, etc.