Even among Republicans, few can identify major areas where they’d like government to do less
Read the Survey
A new American Compass/YouGov survey challenges the conventional wisdom that Americans are sharply divided on the role of government. The survey of 1,000 Americans in March 2024 found that citizens across political parties and socioeconomic classes have largely positive views of their local and state governments and generally agree on preserving major spending programs like entitlements and the social safety net.
While views of the federal government are more polarized, the survey indicates that support for major government activities remains robust. Strikingly, even among Republicans, there is little appetite for cutting government programs that have long been targeted by conservative politicians and think tanks. These results suggest that the “bigger government” versus “smaller government” framework that has defined many post-Cold War policy debates may be losing its relevance in the face of a realigning electorate.
Key findings include:
- Americans across party lines and socioeconomic classes express positive views of local and state governments and believe government can solve problems, with few able to identify programs they want to cut.
- While the federal government elicits more polarized views, strong support remains for its core functions among both Democrats and Republicans.
- Contrary to the positions of many conservative leaders, Republican voters overwhelmingly back major entitlements like Social Security and want to maintain or expand the social safety net.
- Republicans and Democrats align on policy substance but diverge in their broader values, with Republicans more favorable to market-based solutions and skeptical of government’s ability to advance liberty and growth.
Read the Survey
The American Appetite for Government
Even among Republicans, few can identify major areas where they’d like government to do less
