Encouraging Polling Data

I realize that public opinion polls are quirky and that answers often depend on how questions are phrased. Nonetheless, these results seem very strong.

As reported on the Bankrupting America website, there is more than three-to-one opposition against a value-added tax:

Voters think a value added tax, or VAT, is a bad idea for America. Respondents were asked which of the following statements they agree with: A value added tax is a good idea. It could raise billions of dollars in new revenue for the federal government, reduce the federal deficit without raising income taxes, and would be paid only by people who purchase certain products. [or] A value added tax is a bad idea for America. It would be a massive hidden tax that would not appear on a bill, it would increase the price of almost everything, it would be paid primarily by the middle class, and it would hurt our economic recovery. Voters think a VAT is a bad idea by 67 to 21 percent, including 53 to 31 percent among Democrats, 67 to 19 percent among Independents, and 82 to 12 percent among Republicans.

And the Rasmussen website shows more than four-in-five voters say the deficit exists because of too much spending and nearly six-in-ten recognize that new taxes would simply lead to new spending:

Only 18% of Americans are willing to pay higher taxes to lower the federal budget deficit, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Sixty-nine percent (69%) are not willing to have their taxes raised to deal with deficits that are projected to rise to historic levels over the next decade. Thirteen percent (13%) more are not sure. ...Eighty-three percent (83%) of Americans say the size of the federal budget deficit is due more to the unwillingness of politicians to cut government spending than to the reluctance of taxpayers to pay more in taxes. Sixty-six percent (66%) of Americans already believe the country is overtaxed... Even if the president and Congress raise taxes to reduce the federal deficit, 58% of voters think they are more likely to spend the money on new government programs.

Last but not least, here are Rasumussen results showing voters recognize that higher taxes and higher spending hurt economic performance:

3* Do tax cuts help the economy, hurt the economy, or have no impact on the economy?

57% Help
19% Hurt
12% No impact
12% Not sure

4* Do increases in government spending help the economy, hurt the economy, or have no impact on the economy?

25% Help
56% Hurt
9% No impact
9% Not sure

5* Do decreases in government spending help the economy, hurt the economy, or have no impact on the economy?

52% Help
25% Hurt
11% No impact
11% Not sure