A new Gallup poll shows that most Americans feel the government does too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses.
Yet that number is down from the record high of 61 percent during the summer to 54 percent today.
The two parties are far apart on the role of government. “Two-thirds of Democrats think government should do more, while an even larger percentage of Republicans say government is doing too much that should be left to individuals and businesses,” Gallup reports.
Notably, more than six in 10 independents feel that the government is doing too much.
The two presidential candidates have highlighted their parties’ views on the role of government.
Speaking at the Democratic National Convention, Barack Obama said, “We also believe in something called citizenship … the idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another, and to future generations.”
In his Republican National Convention speech, Mitt Romney emphasized individualism.
“What is needed in our country is not complicated or profound. It doesn’t take a special government commission to tell us what America needs. What America needs is jobs, lots of jobs,” Romney said.
Gallup also found a split on the question of whether the government has too much power. Over the past two years, strong majorities have said the government has too much power, but only 51 percent said so in the most recent survey.
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