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Poll: Government Viewed as a Threat to FreedomRelated Content
At the outset of President Obama's second term, he sits atop a government that a majority of Americans - 53 percent - view as a threat to personal rights and freedoms, according to a new poll from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. In March 2010, only 47 percent of respondents felt that the government threatened their freedom. The increase since then has been driven largely by Republicans - in 2010, only 62 percent of conservative Republicans described the government as a threat, but today, 76 percent of conservative Republicans feel threatened by the state. One interesting crosstab: amid a growing push for stricter gun laws, households with guns feel more threatened than households without: 62 percent of gun-owning households view government as a threat to freedom, while only 45 percent of those without guns agree. And just 26 percent of respondents said they trust the government to do the right thing always or most of the time; 73 percent said the government can be trusted to do the right thing only sometimes or never. Still, despite the desultory numbers, only 19 percent of respondents described themselves as "angry" at the federal government. A much more common sentiment - frustration - was voiced by 58 percent. And 20 percent described themselves as basically content with the government. The Pew poll also delivers a familiar verdict on Congress. (Spoiler alert: people don't like it.) Only 23 percent of respondents expressed a favorable view of Congress, while 68 percent expressed an unfavorable view. And by a large margin, Americans blame lawmakers themselves, not the system or the institution: 56 percent of respondents said members of Congress are the problem, while only 32 percent said that lawmakers have good intentions but that the political system is broken. For the survey, Pew interviewed 1,502 adults from January 9-13. |
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akrock said on Monday, Feb 4 at 3:35 PM
These polls make me laugh. A month ago the polls reported 47% of the people thought he was doing a good job and 53% thought he was a failure and today 53% think our freedom is at stake and 47% think it isn't. What are they doing rewording the same poll just to sell news?
112857241elauesen said on Friday, Feb 1 at 5:19 PM
Weak-minded sheep falling for Right-Wing & Corporate propaganda. We elect our government, but we have no such control over CORPORATIONS who really do pose a threat to our freedom. Drug companies, insurance companies, oil companies, media conglomerates, telecommunication companies...THEY are the ones who control you...not government EXCEPT to the extent that they control government. So wake up and figure out whose on First, sheep...
112702621herman48 said on Friday, Feb 1 at 5:08 PM
“This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead in the future” Adolf Hitler
112701961Mike said on Friday, Feb 1 at 4:18 PM
I didn't vote for them !!!!!!!
112700256SAM HALL said on Friday, Feb 1 at 3:26 PM
Interesting that Republicans seem and gun owners seem to be the ones most afraid of government now. I think that shows more about a way that perhaps this particular group feels than anything else.
112697945Dan Harrington said on Friday, Feb 1 at 3:10 PM
We are looking at a regime that is willing to relinquish American sovereignty to gain votes. I betting this goes much deeper than just his desire to eliminate the Second Amendment.
112696956Robert has a point... said on Friday, Feb 1 at 1:54 PM
I like that analogy...good job...the voters are electing folks they know are "no good" but do it anyways because they make theatrics of it all...so you will vote for "the other guy" and how is that working out...
112693381Erik said on Friday, Feb 1 at 1:24 PM
I used to think government would defend the people against the corporations and greed-heads. Now I realize we're just caught between them and counting down the days...
112691471Robert said on Friday, Feb 1 at 12:53 PM
Why is it that if 56% view the individual members of congress as problem that they keep getting re-elected? What is wrong with people that makes them willing to continue to "re-hire" employees that they have already identified as bad? If I catch an employee lying or stealing or just not getting the job done, I fire them....and you should treat all elected officials the same way. We should not have anything known as "career politicians" in this country.
112689275thom Kyte said on Friday, Feb 1 at 12:50 PM
Why wouldn't the "normal" working American feel threatened? We have a President that is doing everything in his power to take us down the path to pure socialism, wanting those that work to support those that 1, refuse to, 2, won't, 3. believe that they don't have to work and the goverment will take care of them. A goverment that is under the belief that we work for them and not that they are suppose to work for us or that believes that they are immune to their own decisions and keeps making decisions that indicate they are above the people that put them in office to begin with
112689112TOM BAXTER said on Friday, Feb 1 at 12:10 PM
Your comments are idiotic and not based in facts. The feds suck until there is a natural disaster and you need them, then if they do nothing you complain about that too! We need the feds like it or not. if they were not in Alaska where do you think you would fly or drive? Where would money for roads and airports come from? Thats right a State Tax idiots!
112686122Kathleen Tonn/Move the Mountain Ministries... said on Friday, Feb 1 at 10:15 AM
Our federal government has produced factions within our nation! Trusted government officials disenfranchised the public’s trust and confidence through deceit and manipulation of domestic and foreign actions, policy and relations. Certainly, frustration is in the heart of American citizens! Why wouldn’t it be?
112677631then by all means MOVE... said on Friday, Feb 1 at 10:15 AM
you know I am getting really tired of the whining of the "your taking away my freedom" bs...look at other countries that are more strict then we are...if you don't like the USA then by all means MOVE to another country...then you will see how much freedom we really have...power of the peoples not politicians...you have the whole world in your hands but sitting on them doesn't get anything done but smelling like dung...
112677621mikey372002 said on Friday, Feb 1 at 10:03 AM
You view government as an Outhouse, with the big turds on top sqishing out everything else, whats left is just the huge turds. and thats when you have a revolt, The outhouse is for everyone, but the big turds dont want any lil ones around, So the big turds slowly eat away at and lil turd right, I am sure everyone of you have felt intruded when you have to get on a plane and go through security, kids and grandparents get fondled by these pedafiles disguised as a tsa person.
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