America Wants Government to Act

With 85% of Americans telling pollsters the country is going the wrong way, and only 21% in a poll released yesterday pleased with the particular kind of activist government the Bushites are running, perhaps it's time to pay attention to these big numbers, instead of the Big Lie, that all Americans really want from their elected government is as little as possible.

For according to a recent Rockerfeller Foundation/ Time Magazine poll, an overwhelming majority of Americans wants government to institute new programs to send the country in a new direction, in a big way. Specifically:

84% favor higher tax incentives for alternative energy, such as wind and solar power, and mandatory limits on pollution in the atmosphere.

82% want government to increase spending on programs such as FDR-style public works to create jobs.

77% want to increase government programs to provide health care insurance to those who can't afford it.

83% favor increasing the mandatory minimum wage to keep up with increases in the cost of living.

66% favor government-funded child care for working parents.

70% say more government programs--not fewer--should help those struggling in today's economy.

17% approve of the Bushite approach to the economy.

Sounds like change we can believe in.

Hat tip to Rachel Maddow for highlighting this poll on Countdown Monday.