Regulation Rules
According to Gallup’s latest numbers, Americans believe that government is overreaching in its regulation of business and industry. These numbers suggest that tolerance for the left’s regulatory rule is assuaging.
The overall increase in the number of Americans who believe that there is too much government regulation of business and industry from last year was seven percent, but what is particularly interesting is that half of Independents (50%) believe there is too much regulation (up from 38% in September of 2008). Unsurprisingly, Republicans overwhelmingly believe there is too much regulation (70%), but of note is the leap of fourteen percent since September 2008 (56%). These increases indicate a fervent reaction, particularly amongst Republicans and Independents, to the uptick in regulatory legislation put forth by Democrats.
In addition to believing there is too much regulation, Americans also increasingly believe that the government is doing too much (57%), the highest since 1998 during the Clinton administration (59%). Amongst Republicans, that number reaches to 80% believing the government does too much (17% should do more) and most notably 63% percent amongst Independents (33% should do more).
As we know, the American public is not overly fond of either political party, particularly Republicans, who rated 28% fav/43% unfav in the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. The question is: what can Republicans do to harness the sentiments of an overreaching government and improve their standing with the American public?
In my view there are two key ways for our party to harness these sentiments: first, amongst Independents and disenchanted Republicans, Republicans need to communicate our solutions that operate in the context of smaller government and empowerment of the individual American; secondly, amongst the base, Republicans need to communicate why their support and activism for small government minded candidates is so important.
Republicans stood in a similar position in the 1990s, and we effectively communicated our solutions - making great gains in congress and governorships, thanks to the support of independents.
What do you think Republicans need to do to capitalize on regulatory reach?
- Alicia Davis
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