Regardless of Election Results, Americans Still Want Smaller Government

Although it would be easy to interpret the Democratic Party’s victory as a call by voters for bigger government, a new opinion poll clearly shows that while the American people have been frustated by the foibles of Republicans, their votes for change should not be confused with favoring higher taxes or more government spending. Among the nuggets contained in the recent survey is the finding that 62% of voters would like the 2003 capital gains and dividend cuts extended and 57% of voters would rather have a member of congress that cut spending rather than bringing home pork.
While it is hard to attribute national election results to any one factor — was it the Iraq War or was it spending and corruption that hurt the Republicans? — I believe that many voters simply voted for divided government.