I'd like to see the exact phrasing of that question.
I didn't question the question since the report came from Fox and I had the impression, perhaps incorrectly, that the survey came from the Bush "side."
I had never before seen any data, regardless of quality, but my sense has always been that most people want more government services, not fewer. Two thirds seems believable to me. I'm conscious of this because, like you, I want less rather than more government.
I doubt that most people are tuned into what proportion of the budget goes to services for citizens, support of commerce, pork, Federal bureaucracy vs. contracting, etc. I imagine that people surveyed respond to that question in terms of services to citizens, like Medicare, school loans, welfare, consumer protection, etc. Maybe they think a bit more broadly to things like highway development and air traffic controllers. I think it very likely that two thirds of the electorate want bunches and bunches of that stuff and that we are in the minority.
When you're in the minority, I think it's important to recognize it. I found that survey useful because it put a number on what my instincts tell me is my minority point of view.
Karen |
