Poll: Majority Of Americans Say Government Should Do Less – Not More

On Thursday, Gallup released a new poll that revealed a majority of Americans say government does too much.

This was a significant change from when a similar poll was conducted last year, and comes as the Biden administration and congressional Democrats are attempting to greatly increase the size and scope of government involvement in the everyday lives of Americans.

Biggest Drop In ‘Faith In Government’ Comes From Independents

“Americans have shifted back to favoring a more hands-off approach for government in addressing the nation’s problems after a rare endorsement of a more active role last year,” Gallup noted.

Gallup observed, “Currently, 52% say the government is doing too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses, while 43% want the government to do more to solve the country’s problems.”

“In contrast, a record-high 54% of U.S. adults last year said the government should do more to solve problems,” the poll added.

When 54 percent wanted more government intervention in the 2020 poll, that took place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial strife protests.

Gallup also found that Americans in all major political parties wanted less government action, with the biggest decrease being independents.

A whopping fifty-seven percent of independents now say the government is doing too much.

Only 38 percent of independents held the same view last year. That’s almost a 20 point slip in independents’ view of government action.

Another 38 percent of independents said government should be doing more. 56 percent held that opinion in 2020.

That’s an 18 point slip.

Not surprisingly, 78 percent of Democrats say government should do more, with only 18 percent saying it does too much.

Gallup: ‘Americans Say They Prefer Fewer Government Services And Lower Taxes’

Almost a mirror image, 80 percent of Republicans say the government does too much with only 15 percent believing it should do more.

Gallup also noted, “Americans’ preference for a limited government role is also evident when they are asked to consider the trade-offs between taxes and government services.”

“Given a choice, half of Americans say they prefer fewer government services and lower taxes, while 19% want higher taxes and more services,” the poll found. “Twenty-nine percent want taxes and services as they are now.

Between Sept. 1-17, 2021, Gallup surveyed 1,005 adults and the group notes that their latest poll has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

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John Hanson

is a professional writer and editor with over 15 years of experience in conservative media and Republican politics. He has been a special guest on Fox News, Sirius XM, appeared as the guest of various popular personalities, and has had a lifelong interest in right-leaning politics.