Tipsheet

Poll: Americans Vote the Government "Does Too Much"

The government is trying to take control of too many operations that ought to be left to individuals and businesses, according to a Gallup report released Thursday.

Fifty-three percent of Americans voted the government does “too many things” while 40 percent said its powers should be expanded.

Gallup has asked that question since 1992. During that time, on average, Americans have been much more likely to choose the "doing too much" option over "should do more" when Democrats Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were president than when Republicans George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush were president.

Preference for Government Role in Solving Problems, Average by Presidential Administration