Just 17% of Americans say the government is more likely to spend its money wisely and carefully than a private business, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Sixty-two percent (62%) say a private business is more likely to spend its money carefully, but 21% are not sure which would do better.

These findings are consistent with findings for months that question the government’s handling of taxpayer money. Seventy-six percent (76%) of Americans, for example, say it is at least somewhat likely that a large amount of money in the $787-billion economic stimulus plan will be wasted due to inadequate government oversight.

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Eighty-two percent (82%) of Republicans and two-thirds of adults (67%) not affiliated with either major political party have more confidence in a private business to spend wisely and carefully. Democrats are more closely divided: 42% put their faith in a private business, but 27% think the government is more likely to be the wiser spender.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of investors say a private business is more likely to spend its money wisely and carefully. Sixty-two percent (62%) of government employees agree, compared with 71% of those who work in the private sector.

While a sizable majority (77%) of populist or Mainstream America says a private business is more likely to be a careful spender, the Political Class is closely divided over the question.

Despite President Obama’s pledge of unprecedented oversight of all government spending, 59% of Americans are not confident that taxpayer money will be wisely and carefully spent. Fifty-one percent (51%) don’t believe the government will be doing any better four years from now.

A majority of voters (53%) believe more government spending hurts the economy anyway.

Thirty percent (30%) of voters now say the stimulus plan passed by Congress in February is hurting the economy, while 31% believe it has helped. Forty-five percent (45%) of Americans say the rest of the new government spending authorized in the plan now should be canceled.

Fifty-five percent (55%) of Americans believe decisions made by U.S. business leaders will do more to help the economy grow than decisions made by the government.

Seventy-four percent (74%) of Americans trust their own judgment more than that of the average member of Congress when it comes to economic issues facing the nation.

Sixty percent (60%) of voters trust their own economic judgment more than Obama’s.

Americans also view two of the government’s top financial planners, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke, more negatively than positively. Investors are even more skeptical of them.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of Americans oppose more government regulation of the U.S. financial system.

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