W A S H I N G T O N, Feb. 6
— Americans' basic views on the size and role of government haven't changed much since Sept. 11: More prefer a smaller government to a larger one, although most continue to give a higher priority to providing "needed services."
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More Americans do express optimism in the post-Sept. 11 world that government can solve problems — especially security problems, but also economic and even domestic ones. At the same time, public demand for action on many domestic issues has declined.
Sampling, data collection and tabulation
for this poll were done by TNS Intersearch.
Some results in this ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll run counter to the notion that the public's basic views of government have been altered since the terrorist attacks. Previous ABCNEWS polling has suggested that what's mainly changed is the public's context for evaluating government, rather than its fundamental views of government.
In this poll, 64 percent say "providing needed services" is more important than "holding down the size of government" — almost exactly the same as last summer, unchanged by the events of 9/11.
There is some movement, but not sweeping change, in another question: Fifty-four percent prefer "smaller government with fewer services," down five points since July 2000, while 41 percent prefer "larger government with many services," up seven points.
Sept. 11 seems to have brought home to many people that the "services" the government provides include, crucially, protection from terrorism. In an ABCNEWS poll last month, 68 percent said they trust the government to handle national security; just 38 percent said they trust it to handle social issues.
The Role of the Government
HOLDING
DOWN THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT
PROVIDING
NEEDED SERVICES
NOW
33%
63%
JULY,
2001
33%
63%
SMALLER
GOVERNMENT WITH FEWER SERVICES
LARGER
GOVERNMENT WITH MANY SERVICES
NOW
54%
41%
JULY,
2000
59%
34%
Optimism
Nonetheless, events since Sept. 11 do seem to have inspired newfound optimism. In this poll, confidence in the government's ability to solve problems in general has risen, to 66 percent, from 51 percent in 2000.
Such confidence is greatest — 78 percent — when it comes to handling national security problems. Confidence in the government's ability to handle economic problems drops to 63 percent; and on domestic problems it's 58 percent — a majority, but 20 points lower than confidence specifically on security matters.
Waste
Similarly, this poll finds much less skepticism about governmental waste in military spending, while perceptions of waste in domestic spending haven't changed.
Today a minority of Americans, 43 percent, say there's a "great deal" of waste in military spending, down 20 points from an ABCNEWS poll taken in 1983. But 61 percent see a great deal of waste in domestic spending, and, again, that's essentially unchanged.
Priorities
The campaign against terrorism and the economy have moved to the top of the public's priority list in the aftermath of Sept. 11. At the same time, demand for action on a number of social issues has diminished.
The number of Americans who say a balanced budget should be a top priority for Bush and the Congress has dropped by 14 points from its pre-9/11 level. Top priority for environmental issues has lost 12 points; for prescription drug benefits for the elderly, down 10 points; education, down eight points.
Partisanship
As usual, Republicans are much more supportive of a smaller, less activist government. At the same time, they also express more confidence in the government's ability to solve problems. That's likely due to their overwhelming confidence in George W. Bush, whom they give a 98 percent job approval rating.
Work
Finally, whatever admiration for government does exist, most people would rather work in the private sector. Assuming equal pay and benefits, 59 percent of Americans say they'd prefer to work for a private company, while 34 percent pick the federal government.
Majorities of all demographic groups would chose to work for a private company over the government. The same is true of partisanship; about six in 10 Democrats, Republicans and independents alike would sooner take a private job.
Methodology
This ABCNEWS.com survey was conducted by telephone was conducted by telephone Jan. 9-13 among a random national sample of 1,023 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Sampling, data collection and tabulation were conducted by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa.
Archived ABCNEWS polls can be found in the Poll Vault.
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