United Liberty

A new Washington Post poll shows that Americans want smaller government:

Obama has used the power and financial resources of the federal government repeatedly as he has dealt with the country’s problems this year, to the consternation of his Republican critics. The poll found little change in underlying public attitudes toward government since the inauguration, with slightly more than half saying they prefer a smaller government with fewer services to a larger government with more services. Independents, however, now split 61 to 35 percent in favor of a smaller government; they were more narrowly divided on this question a year ago (52 to 44 percent), before the financial crisis hit.

The defense to this is that Barack Obama won the election, therefore he has a mandate to expand government by pursuing an eventual government takeover of health care and cap-and-trade. Most of us now realize that John McCain was a terrible candidate, following in the footsteps of a president who squandered any every opportunity, including a Republican majority, to make tilt Washington towards free-markets and limited government.

Many Americans that would normally cast a ballot for small-government candidates, such as libertarian-minded voters, found themselves frustrated because Republicans had lost their way.

H/T: Cato @ Liberty