If you've ever feared that you were in the minority for believing in smaller government, fear no more.  A recent Rasmussen Reports poll found that sixty-eight percent (68%) of U.S. voters prefer a smaller government with fewer services and lower taxes, as opposed to a more active one that offers more services and higher taxes. 

That result is the second highest finding in their surveying on the question since November 2006, exceeded only by a 70% finding in August of last year.  In nearly four years of surveying on the question, support for a smaller government has never been lower that 55%, while backing for a more active government has run as low as just 19%. These consistently high numbers go a long way to explaining why voters stormed congressional town hall meetings across the country to complain about pending health care legislation, the bailouts of the auto and financial industry and the $787-billion (and counting) economic stimulus plan.

The findings also explain why you and I are Republicans: eighty-eight percent (88%) of Republicans prefer a smaller government.  Among and voters not affiliated with either major party, 74% prefer smaller government, while Democrats are evenly divided. But we can also see why our political class keeps voting in tax increases and more borrowing and spending.  Sixty-one percent (61%) of the political class prefer a more active government with more services and higher taxes!

And, like the majority of the political class, President Obama doesn't get it.  He recently announced plans for at least $50 billion in new spending on transportation infrastructure and billions more in tax credits in hopes of jumpstarting the troubled economy.  Consequently, the majority of us don't trust Congress and especially the Democrats.  Rasmussen also found that most voters believe Democrats in Congress want to raise taxes and spending, while Republicans in Congress want to cut taxes and spending. The latest Generic Congressional Ballot finds that 48% of Likely Voters would vote for their district's Republican congressional candidate, while only 36% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent. This matches the largest advantage ever measured for the Republicans three weeks ago.

You can read more at Rasmussen Reports.  The company is an electronic media company specializing in the collection, publication and distribution of public opinion polling information.  The poll referenced above was a survey of 1,000 'Likely Voters' conducted on September 2-3, 2010.