Americans Say Federal Gov't Wastes Over Half of Every Dollar - even liberals say 44%

[glenn1]

IMHO, this kinda puts a dent in the idea that the American people are clamoring for higher taxes, whether on the wealthy or anyone else. Even Democrats feel that the waste ratio is 47%, yet still want to continue feeding the beast despite this.

* * *

(snip) Estimates of federal government waste do not vary greatly by political partisanship, with only a 5 cent difference between Republicans' and Democrats' averages, but show more differentiation by ideology. Conservatives are much more likely than liberals to view the federal government as wasting money.

 

[Rainsford]

So it's estimates by random people with no comparison to anything else (how much do they think companies waste?)...not exactly scientific figures.

The idea of government waste is flogged relentlessly by pundits and the media, mostly with absolutely no context or supporting evidence. Is it any surprise that when you ask the average Joe for a random guess, they guess around 50%?

 

[senseamp]

Lots of stupid people in America.

 

[Engineer]

What I think is waste may be a "necessity" to you. I think we spend far too much (50% or more) on the war machine (defense), yet many here would cry like a baby if it were touched. The list goes on and on...but I agree that the government is spending too much. As soon as we can get the "job creators" to create those jobs, we'll pull out of this mess! :hmm:

 

[senseamp]

IMHO, this kinda puts a dent in the idea that the American people are clamoring for higher taxes, whether on the wealthy or anyone else.

Nope, also from Gallup:

 

[werepossum]

Wow! I consider myself a small (well, smallER) government kinda guy and I wouldn't have said nearly this high. I suspect Engineer is correct - government is certainly spending too much, but these people must be assuming that anything not of value to them is wasted.

 

[werepossum]

Nope, also from Gallup:

I think it's pretty well established that a majority of Americans are in favor of raising taxes on other Americans.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

I think it's pretty well established that a majority of Americans are in favor of raising taxes on other Americans.

Nope. You and your conservative brothers continue to refute this in spite of the overwhelming evidence against it.

Just like evolution, global warming, etc.

Fucking idiots. Country will be better off once natural selection does its job on you.

 

[woolfe9999]

IMHO, this kinda puts a dent in the idea that the American people are clamoring for higher taxes, whether on the wealthy or anyone else.

How does it put a dent in opinion polls that show the majority favoring higher taxes for the wealthy? You're saying that on opinion poll that gets at the issue indirectly trumps another that gets at it directly?

 

[senseamp]

I think it's pretty well established that a majority of Americans are in favor of raising taxes on other Americans.

Apparently not for the OP.

 

[werepossum]

Nope. You and your conservative brothers continue to refute this in spite of the overwhelming evidence against it.

Just like evolution, global warming, etc.

Fucking idiots. Country will be better off once natural selection does its job on you.

Natural selection is going to select for those unable to provide their own health care, day care, education, job training . . .

I think not.

 

[LegendKiller]

What a silly conclusion to an incomplete poll. I wouldn't get anywhere near 50%. Is defense a "waste"? Not all of it.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Lots of stupid people in America.

You don't think government is efficient, do you?

And I'll put in the Nazi efficiency bit first.

 

[Craig234]

In other news:

71% say it's too damn hot outside, 65% say kids today are no good, 82% say music today is crap, and 66% say they can kick the president's ass.

94% say drivers who drive faster or slower than them drive too fast or too slow, 81% say a neighbor has wasted money on crap and/or a bad choice of car.

 

[glenn1]

Lots of stupid people in America.

I'd say 47% of Democrats being stupid is a lowball figure.

 

[glenn1]

How does it put a dent in opinion polls that show the majority favoring higher taxes for the wealthy? You're saying that on opinion poll that gets at the issue indirectly trumps another that gets at it directly?

No, I'd say it means that if the government is going to waste money no matter what, they'd prefer it come from the rich. That doesn't mean their preference wouldn't be to *gasp* spend and waste less to begin with so that you wouldn't need to raise taxes.

 

[Engineer]

Again, are ALL the people agreeing on what the 50% waste is?

 

[werepossum]

In other news:

71% say it's too damn hot outside, 65% say kids today are no good, 82% say music today is crap, and 66% say they can kick the president's ass.

94% say drivers who drive faster or slower than them drive too fast or too slow, 81% say a neighbor has wasted money on crap and/or a bad choice of car.

Wow. That response was merely 100% irrelevant - a big improvement from 100% wrong.

Congrats!

 

[Engineer]

Wow. That response was merely 100% irrelevant - a big improvement from 100% wrong.

Congrats!

Not taking Craig's viewpoint here but I do think it's relative. What one person defines as something doesn't mean the same to another. Speeding to one may be driving too slow to another. No different than the OP.

If everyone agreed what the 50% was, it would be a piece of cake to cut...but there is always someone that wants to cut the pie and leave the cake in place.

At this point, nobody wants to pay the credit card bill that was used to buy the cake and the pie.

 

[matt0611]

I don't know why a lot of liberals balk at the idea at government waste.

The less waste there is, the more money there is for spending programs that you may want.

 

[IronWing]

What is waste? Is stockpiling pharmaceuticals against a biological attack waste if the attack never happens? Is training a bunch of soldiers a waste because they never go to war (cue Madeline Albright quote here)? Some things I can see being a waste like $16 muffins for a conference in a fancy hotel that could have been held in a regular office. But overall waste and value are in the eye of the beholder.

 

[Jhhnn]

Crowdsourcing reality, claiming it to be the truth? Perception = Reality?

That must mean that there really were WMD's in Iraq!

What a lame premise for a thread.

 

[Lithium381]

Define waste:
Is it spending $15 on a muffin when the likely could have gotten it for $1?
Is it buying a Ford Crown vic for day to day travel instead of a Focus?
Is it being lazy when negotiating salaries with public unions and overpaying by 10% + benies?

 

[Lithium381]

Wow. That response was merely 100% irrelevant - a big improvement from 100% wrong.

Congrats!

Gave me the lulz!

 

[Craig234]

I don't know why a lot of liberals balk at the idea at government waste.

The less waste there is, the more money there is for spending programs that you may want.

We don't. We're the ones who most effectively fight it. What we balk at is how the right uses the phrase as a lie, for their policies, to build anti-government sentiment.

Funny thing is, when you hit REAL huge government waste, like the Pentagon losing tens of billions, the right is basically silent on it.