Post by shoreman on Aug 3, 2006 5:47:31 GMT -5
Voters: Government Wastes More Than Half of Tax Dollars
A startling new survey has found that voters of all ages and political parties believe the federal government wastes at least half of every tax dollar it spends. The average figure cited is 53%. Women say that 59 cents of every dollar are wasted; men say on average 47 cents.
That's based on a national survey of 800 registered voters, as reported in an op-ed by Gary J. Andres in the Washington Times.
"The depth of voter concern and cynicism about spending and waste are the political equivalent of a black hole," Andres wrote. "Apprehension about wasteful government spending persists like a chronic illness afflicting the body politic."
Of course, this is not an indicator of how much government actually does waste. That figure may well be far higher. But it shows a truly huge and widespread distrust of government spending and, indeed, of the federal government itself.
The poll also explored another topic: Are voters more concerned about how much the government *spends*, or are they more interested in reforming how taxes are *collected* (like, say, replacing the income tax with a national sales tax or flat tax)?
According to the survey: "By an overwhelming 85 percent to 12 percent margin, spending trumps collection. This suggests that political leaders emphasizing controlling government spending and reducing waste would find more support than those advocating alternative forms of revenue collection."
With that in mind, how about this for a sample soundbite for libertarian candidates: "If elected, I will cut government spending by the 53% that most Americans currently think politicians and bureaucrats waste. I'll return that money to you, the voter, so you can spend it on the charitable, community, or environmental groups that actually accomplish the good things you want, without all the waste."
(Source: www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20060720-081458-6918r.htm )
A startling new survey has found that voters of all ages and political parties believe the federal government wastes at least half of every tax dollar it spends. The average figure cited is 53%. Women say that 59 cents of every dollar are wasted; men say on average 47 cents.
That's based on a national survey of 800 registered voters, as reported in an op-ed by Gary J. Andres in the Washington Times.
"The depth of voter concern and cynicism about spending and waste are the political equivalent of a black hole," Andres wrote. "Apprehension about wasteful government spending persists like a chronic illness afflicting the body politic."
Of course, this is not an indicator of how much government actually does waste. That figure may well be far higher. But it shows a truly huge and widespread distrust of government spending and, indeed, of the federal government itself.
The poll also explored another topic: Are voters more concerned about how much the government *spends*, or are they more interested in reforming how taxes are *collected* (like, say, replacing the income tax with a national sales tax or flat tax)?
According to the survey: "By an overwhelming 85 percent to 12 percent margin, spending trumps collection. This suggests that political leaders emphasizing controlling government spending and reducing waste would find more support than those advocating alternative forms of revenue collection."
With that in mind, how about this for a sample soundbite for libertarian candidates: "If elected, I will cut government spending by the 53% that most Americans currently think politicians and bureaucrats waste. I'll return that money to you, the voter, so you can spend it on the charitable, community, or environmental groups that actually accomplish the good things you want, without all the waste."
(Source: www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20060720-081458-6918r.htm )