Sixty-three percent (63%) of Americans say that the federal government is not doing enough to address the troubled U.S. economy. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 19% hold the opposite view and believe the government response has been adequate.

However, it is not clear what response is expected. Just 32% believe that the federal government should increase its regulation of financial markets. At the same time, 22% believe such regulation should be decreased. Nineteen percent (19%) favor no change while 27% are not sure.

Forty-five percent (45%) favor increased regulation of the mortgage industry while 24% believe less regulation is needed.

Investors are more likely to support increased regulation of the financial markets and the mortgage industry than non-Investors.

Most Americans (57%) believe the federal government should make it harder for foreign companies to sell their products in the United States while 27% disagree.

Fifty-six percent (56%) believe that stopping illegal immigration would help the economy. Twenty-five percent (25%) believe that would hurt the economy.

An earlier survey found that half the nation’s voters believe the best thing the government can do for the economy is to get out of the way by reducing regulation and taxes. Another survey found that a slight majority opposes federal help for homeowners who can’t keep up with their mortgages.

As you would expect, there are significant partisan differences on these topics. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Democrats say the federal government is not doing enough to help the economy. That view is shared by 43% of Republicans and 67% of unaffiliated voters.

Republicans, by a narrow 33% to 24% margin, believe the federal government should decrease its regulation of financial markets. Democrats, by a 39% to 16% margin, hold the opposite view. Thirty-three percent (33%) of unaffiliated voters want more regulation while 16% want less. Among all three partisan groups, nearly half either favor no change or are undecided.

Democrats and unaffiliated voters tend to favor increased regulation of the mortgage industry. Republicans are more evenly divided.

Republicans and unaffiliated voters overwhelmingly believe that stopping illegal immigration would be good for the economy. Democrats are more evenly divided on that question.

Data from the Rasmussen Consumer Index shows that consumer and investor confidence has fallen to the lowest levels of the post-9/11 era.

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