Are Americans Rational About Risk, or a Bunch of “Paranoid Nuts”? (LISTEN UP GOPe!)

I’m conflicted. More and more people get lured into some form of government dependency every yearLINK, and this suggests Americans eventually will adopt a European-style moocher mentality.LINK

This worries me.

On the other hand, I periodically see polls suggesting that the American people have very libertarian views on key issues.

By a margin of almost 4-1, Americans support a spending cap.LINK
Two-thirds of gun owners are willing to defy the law if politicians ban private possession of firearms. LINK
Recognition that big government is the greatest danger to America’s future. LINK
An increasingly negative view of the federal government. LINK
More than eight-to-one support for less spending rather than higher taxes. LINK
Strong support for bureaucrat layoffs and/or entitlement reforms instead of higher taxes. LINK
Three-fourths of voters think the top tax rate should be no higher than 30 percent. LINK

These are encouraging numbers. And here’s another bit of good news. A recent poll by Fox News found that a plurality of Americans would not give up personal freedoms to reduce the threat of terrorism. LINK What’s especially remarkable is that this poll took place immediately following the bombing of the Boston Marathon by the welfare-sponging Tsarnaev brothers. LINK

http://finance.townhall.com/columnists/d...utm_campaign=nl