Gallup has a new poll out today showing that overwhelming majorities of Americans are unhappy with “the size, power, and influence” of the both the federal government and major corporations. Specifically, 69% of those surveyed said they were dissatisfied with the size and power of the federal government and 63% said they were dissatisfied with the size and influence of corporations.
Democrats were the only group satisfied with the size of the federal government (49%-47%) while Republicans split on the size of corporations (48%-48%). But independents were solidly against both big government (75%-24%) and big business (71%-25%).
Traditionally, Republicans have been more sympathetic to big business, but President Obama’s overt corporatism has, thankfully, begun to change that bias. Conservatives are beginning to realize that big business can be an enemy to free markets and capitalism when they partner with the federal government. Just look at Fannie Mae’s partnership with Countrywide Financial, the Obama administration’s bailout of Chrysler, or the drug industries support of Obamacare. All too often, big businesses care only about profits, not free market principles. They are far too willing to invest in the lobbyists needed to use big government power to their financial advantage.
Liberals, meanwhile, love both big business and big government. Only big businesses have the deep pockets necessary to afford generous big labor contracts. Only big businesses can be forced to build failed electric cars, manufacture unprofitable solar panels, and build super trains to nowhere.
