Forty-five percent (45%) of American adults say it’s time to stop all bailout funding for the financial industry. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 34% disagree while 21% are not sure.

The findings come amidst growing public anger over $165 million in executive bonuses paid out at American International Group (AIG) after the ailing insurance giant had received a $170 billion bailout from the federal government to stay in business.

As with other topics concerning bailouts, there is a huge gap between the Political Class and Mainstream America on this issue. By a 76% to nine percent (9%) margin, the Political Class believes the bailout should continue. By a 58% to 26% margin, those with Populist views disagree and say the bailouts should stop. Most Americans have Populist attitudes and their perspective can reasonably be considered the perspective of Mainstream America.

Most men say all bailout payments should stop while women are evenly divided. A plurality of adults under 30 say the bailouts should continue, but their elders hold the opposite view.

Middle income Americans, those earning $40,000 to $100,000 a year, want the bailouts to stop by a 52% to 31% margin. Those who earn less than $40,000 or more than $100,000 are evenly divided on the question.

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The gap between Mainstream America and the Political Class is much bigger than the gap between Republicans and Democrats within each group.

Among those in the Mainstream, 62% of Republicans want to stop all bailout payments along with 52% of Democrats and 51% of those not affiliated with either major party.

Among the Political Class, the opposite view prevails.

Data released earlier shows that 67% of Americans believe politicians should return any campaign contributions they received from AIG. That view is shared by all measured groups except one - America’s Political Class.

There are also wide differences of opinion between Mainstream America and the Political Class on Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's job performance and whether it makes sense to keep subsidizing AIG.

In early February, a related question found that just 29% favored the authorization of new funding for the troubled banking industry. Later that month, given the choice between federal bailouts for the auto companies, the financial industry and financially trouble homeowners or no bailouts for any of them, 54% opted for no bailouts at all.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Americans now believe most of the taxpayer money given out as bailouts is going to the very people who created the country’s current economic crisis.

For the Political Class-Populist research, survey respondents are classified based upon responses to three survey questions. Most Americans share the Populist view. Three-out-of-four either hold those views or lean in that direction, so it is reasonable to consider the Populist view as representing Mainstream America. From the Mainstream, or Populist, point of view, big government and big business are political allies rather than political opponents. Populists tend to trust the wisdom of the American people and see the federal government as a special interest group. Those in the Political Class tend to have more confidence in political leaders and less trust in the wisdom of the American people.

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