Rasmussen Poll: Most Want to Cut Taxes, Not Spend More Monday, 15 Aug 2011 04:41 PM By Greg McDonald Share: More . . . A A | Email Us |

Rasmussen Poll: Most Want to Cut Taxes, Not Spend More

Monday, 15 Aug 2011 04:41 PM

By Greg McDonald
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Most Americans – 62 percent – believe that cutting taxes, and not increased government spending, is the best way to create jobs, according to a new poll. And Americans also favor a flat tax of no more than 20 percent, with most believing everyone should pay the same rate, regardless of income.

The new Rasmussen Reports poll of 1,000 adults conducted Aug. 12-13 found that overall, most Americans want less government spending, and 64 percent said the middle class still pays a larger share of income in taxes than the wealthy.

"When it comes to job creation and improving the overall economy, voters think tax cuts work better than government solutions," the survey noted.

The poll had a number of other findings:

• 74 percent of Americans said the average tax rate should be no more than 20 percent, and 55 percent believe everyone should pay the same rate, regardless of income.

• 64 percent of Americans would be willing to trade some tax deductions for lower tax rates and 50 percent of Americans prefer a candidate who promises to raise taxes only on the rich over one who is against tax increases of any kind.

• 49 percent of them would oppose the elimination of all tax deductions in exchange for lower rates. Thirty-two percent, meanwhile, like the idea of lowering tax rates for all Americans while eliminating deductions for those who earn $100,000 a year or more.

• The poll also found that 66 percent of the country now believes it may be more beneficial for the economy in the long haul if the government treats all companies and industries, regardless of size, equally when it comes to taxes. Twenty-one percent, however, said it was better if the government continues to provide targeted breaks to certain businesses.

One of the most interesting findings in the Rasmussen poll was that voters, by a margin of 50 percent to 38 percent, said they would prefer a candidate who promises to tax only the rich over one who opposes increases of any kind. That, Rasmussen, noted was “the highest level of support for a candidate who would raise taxes on the rich in three years of surveying.”



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