The "More for Less" Paradox: Public Attitudes on Taxing and Spending

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 49, Heft 3, S. 310-316

Abstract

An examination of the public's attitudes toward federal, state, & local spending & taxing. Data from a random sample survey of over 900 households in a midwestern US state, conducted Feb-Apr 1983, reveal that people desire more spending for a wide variety of services, but less taxation. People do not perceive this as a contradiction, since they believe existing revenues are sufficient to cover costs, through such means as reallocation & non-tax revenue (eg, user fees). Overall, the desire for a "free lunch" is not as widespread as a simple comparison of taxing & spending preferences suggests. 2 Tables, 9 References. Modified HA