43 Percent Say Government Programs Increase Poverty in America

by Kate Piercy Interesting poll results from Rasmussen Reports: A plurality of Americans (43%) believe that government programs increase poverty in America. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% of the nation’s adults believe that those programs decrease poverty. Twenty-three percent (23%) say they have no impact. There is a fundamental difference...

by Kate Piercy

Interesting poll results from Rasmussen Reports:

A plurality of Americans (43%) believe that government programs increase poverty in America. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% of the nation’s adults believe that those programs decrease poverty. Twenty-three percent (23%) say they have no impact.
There is a fundamental difference of opinion on this topic between the nation’s Political Class and Mainstream Americans. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the Political Class believe that government programs reduce poverty. But 56% of those in the Mainstream think government programs actually increase the amount of poverty in the United States.

Thirty-three percent (33%) of all voters say the government anti-poverty programs are at least somewhat effective. Sixty-two percent (62%) disagree and say they’re not effective. This includes seven percent (7%) who believe the programs are Very Effective and 21% who say they are Not At All Effective.