Federal Bailout

71% Say Government Should Let Big Troubled Banks Fail

With JPMorgan Chase Bank, one of the nation’s biggest financial institutions, under scrutiny for its recent $2 billion in trading losses, Americans feel more strongly than ever that no bank is “too big to fail.”

Seventy-one percent (71%) say the government should let troubled banks, even ones that big, go out of business rather than find a way to keep them going, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults. That’s up 15 points from 56% in July 2010.

Just 19% think that if some of the largest banks in the country reach a point where they can no longer meet their obligations, the government should find a way to keep them in business. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 14, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

New High: 47% Say Auto Bailouts Were Good for America

A plurality of voters nationwide now believes the government bailouts of the automobile industry were good for the country, but they remain less enthusiastic about the financial industry bailouts.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 47% of Likely Voters believe the auto industry bailouts were good for America. Forty-three percent (43%) see the government bailouts of automakers General Motors and Chrysler as bad for the country, while another 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 12, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Majority Says GM Ownership Should Have Been Left to Private Sector

A majority of Americans nationwide believe General Motors should have gone through the regular bankruptcy process instead of allowing the federal government to take over in exchange for bailout money. However, they aren’t entirely convinced that the auto company would have been that much better off if it took that route.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 56% of American Adults believe it would have been better if GM had used the regular bankruptcy procedures and left ownership in the private sector. Thirty-two percent (32%) believe it was appropriate for the government to use the special bankruptcy process in exchange for bailout money. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on April 23-24, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

44% Now See Auto Bailouts As Good for America

American voters have disliked the government bailouts of the financial and automobile industries since day one, but they now view the auto industry bailout more positively than the one given to banks and insurance companies.

Forty-four percent (44%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the government bailouts of the auto industry were good for America, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds. Only slightly more (47%) now say the auto bailouts were bad for America. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 8-9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

52% Worry Government Will Do Too Much Trying To Help Economy

Amidst signs the economy is reviving at least slightly, most voters now fear the government may mess things up by getting too involved.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters now worry the federal government will do too much in reacting to the nation’s current economic problems. Thirty-six percent (36%) are more concerned that the government will not do enough. Twelve percent (12%) now are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on March 9-10, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most Voters Still Think Bailouts Bad for America

Amidst reports that the car industry is experiencing a modest rebound in sales, support for the government bailouts is at its highest level in three years of regular tracking, although most voters still think they were a bad idea. 

Thirty-two percent (32%) of Likely U.S. Voters now believe the bailouts of banks, auto companies and insurance companies were good for the United States. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% view the bailouts as bad for the country, while 17% remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on February 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

44% Worry Government Will Do Too Much To Counter Bad Economy

Concern that the government will do too much responding to the bad economy has reached its highest level in seven months after falling to a three-year low in December. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters are now more concerned that the government will do too much in reacting to the nation's economic problems rather than not enough. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on January 13-14, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

73% Think Most Bailout Money Went To Those Who Caused Economic Crisis

Americans believe more strongly than ever that most of the government bailout money for the financial industry went to those who caused the economic meltdown and that the government hasn’t tried hard enough to bring Wall Street criminals to justice.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% of American Adults now think most of the bailout money went to the people who created the economic crisis.

59% Say Government Bailouts Were Bad For America

More voters than ever look back negatively on the government bailouts of banks, auto companies and insurance companies. They remain divided as to what role they’d like the government to play in the struggling economy.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. voters shows that 59% believe the government bailouts of the auto industry and financial sector were bad for the country.

60% Oppose Financial Bailouts; 74% Say Wall Street Benefited Most

The bailouts of the financial industry still leave a sour taste in the mouths of most Americans who feel as strongly as ever that the government was looking out for bankers rather than taxpayers and that crimes on Wall Street remain unpunished.

Public Divided on Occupy Wall Street Protesters

As they marched through Manhattan, they chanted of how the “Big Banks Got Bailed Out, We Got Left Behind.” The Occupy Wall Street protesters found a slogan that resonates with the American people but not many people embrace the protesters views of an economy more regulated by the government.

Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Americans agree with the statement that the “The big banks got bailed but the middle class got left behind." A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American adults found that just 10% disagree with that statement and 11% are not sure.

51% Still Say Bailouts of GM and Chrysler Were A Bad Idea

From their beginning in 2008, the bailouts for Wall Street and the auto industry have been among the most unpopular government actions in recent American history. New polling shows that even after three years, the attitudes haven’t changed all that much.

More Voters Than Ever Worry the Government Will Not Do Enough to Help the Economy

On the heels of the downgrade of the U.S. credit rating, unhappiness with the debt ceiling debates and more unemployment and housing woes, more voters than ever worry that the federal government will not do enough to help the economy.

Americans Divided Over Whether Government Will Do Too Much or Not Enough For Economy

As the nation struggles with high unemployment and a depressed housing market, voters are evenly divided about which worries them more—that the government will not do enough to fix the economy rather than do too much.

47% Worry Government Will Do Too Much To Help Economy

Voters remain narrowly divided over how much the government should get involved in trying to turn around the U.S. economy. 

64% Say Government Hasn’t Been Tough Enough On Wall Street

Many Americans believe the country's economic meltdown was primarily due to criminal behavior by some financial executives, and a sizable majority feel the federal government has not been aggressive enough in pursuing criminal behavior by top Wall Street executives.

68% Say Bank Bailout Money Went To Those Who Caused Meltdown

Americans still look back unfavorably on the federal government bailout of the financial industry and think the billions in taxpayer money went to those who caused the financial meltdown.

Bailouts Remain Popular With Just 25% of Voters

Despite General Motors' seemingly improved financial picture and Chrysler's hopes to repay the government by next month, voters remain convinced that the bailouts of the big automakers were a mistake.

45% Fear Government Will Do Too Much To Help Economy

Even as President Obama prepares to explain his long-term plans for cutting the federal budget deficit to the nation, a sizable number of voters still worry the government will try to do too much in response to the country’s continuing bad economy.

Only 27% Have Positive View of Government Bailouts

While the economy keeps stumbling along, voters continue to express little confidence in government as the solution.