Scott Rasmussen has just completed a poll whose results are not likely to get a lot of coverage from the Associated Press, the New York Times, or the Big 3 networks. Its core finding:
Sixty-six percent (66%) believe that America is overtaxed. Only 25% disagree.
Ramussen's post contains many other choice nuggets (access to the full results requires a paid subscription).
Here are just a few of the more interesting items (not presented in the same order as in the original post):
When thinking about all the services provided by federal, state and local governments, 75% of voters nationwide say the average American should pay no more than 20% of their income in taxes.However, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that most voters (55%) believe the average American actually pays 30% or more of their income in taxes.
Lower income voters are more likely than others to believe the nation is overtaxed.
Eighty-one percent (81%) of Republicans believe the nation is overtaxed. So do 73% of voters not affiliated with either major party. Democrats are evenly divided on the question.
Among those who consider themselves part of the Tea Party movement, 96% believe the nation is overtaxed, and only one percent (1%) disagree.
Currently, only eight percent (8%) believe their taxes will be cut during the Obama presidency, while 46% expect a tax hike.
Not surprisingly, the tax issue provokes a wide gap between the Political Class and Mainstream Americans. Eighty-one percent (81%) of Mainstream American voters believe the nation is overtaxed, while 74% of those in the Political Class disagree.
The only "surprise" may be the result among low-income voters. But it may be, despite seemingly endless brainwashing to the contrary, that they understand that excessive taxation can hold back the economy and job growth. At a more basic level, lower-income individuals and families are more affected by visible taxes on specific goods and services such as cigarettes, gas, and sales taxes on product purchases in general.
As to Rasmussen's finding on the Political Class, the problem is that the vast majority of establishment media members are either de facto members of the Political Class, or have sympathy for them -- which is why the chances of the press doing much with Rasmussen's polling results appear to be very low.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
