Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
Americans Say Government is Our Greatest Problem
Americans Say Government is Our Greatest Problem
Dec 30, 2025 11:25 AM

What is the worst problem facing America? According to a recent Gallup poll, most Americans agree with former President Reagan, who said government is not a the solution, government is the problem.

An average of 16 percent of Americans in 2015 mentioned some aspect of government—including President Obama, Congress, or political conflict—as the country’s chief problem. The economy came in second with 13 percent mentioning it, while unemployment and immigration tied for third at 8 percent.

While government takes the top slot, that’s still an answer given by fewer than one in five citizens. We can’t even seem e to a consensus about our biggest problems. Indeed, 2015 is only the second time since 2001 (2014 was the other year) that no single issue averaged 20 percent or more for the year. Rather than being focused on a single issue, there is a broad range of concerns troubling us; more than a dozen issuesreceived2-6 percent of the vote for worst problem.

Perhaps not surprising since this is an election year, thiswas the first year since 2007 in which immigration was one of the top four most frequently cited problems. Gallup notes that this is likely because mentions of healthcare dropped from 10 percent in 2014 (when Obamacare was frequently in the news) to 6 percent in 2015.

Rounding out the top 10 were five problems, each averaging 5 percent: ethical/moral decline, race relations/racism, terrorism, the federal budget deficit or debt, and education.

Six other issues received 3 percent each: poverty/hunger/homelessness, national security, gap between rich and poor, crime/violence, foreign aid, and ISIS/situation in Iraq.

What would make the top three issue in you list of America’s greatest problems.

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
5 Facts about veterans
Today is Veterans Day, a U.S. public holiday set aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the armed forces both in wartime or peacetime. Here are five facts you should know about veterans in the United States: 1. The Veteran’s Administration estimates there are currently 19,998,799 living veterans (18,115,951 men and 1,882,848 women). Out of that number, 8,876,728 served in the Army, 4,264,809 served in the Navy, 3,476,021 served in the Air Force, 2,213,601 served in...
Radio Free Acton: Matt Kibbe on political cronyism; Upstream on Thank You for Your Service
On this episode of Radio Free Acton, Dylan Pahman, Managing Editor of the Journal of Markets & Morality at the Acton Institute, speaks with Matt Kibbe, President and Director of Free the People, about political cronyism. Dive deeper into the topic of political cronyism and register now to hear Matt Kibbe forActon on Tap on November 16 at New Holland Brewing in Grand Rapids, MI. Then, on the Upstream segment, Bruce Edward Walker discusses the movie “Thank You for Your...
The Russian Revolution’s rebellion against spirit and man
As we reflect on the impact of the Russian Revolution on its 100th anniversary, we’re bound to hear routine admiration of its goals and ideals, even among those who duly recognize the violence and oppression that followed. It’s mon refrain, whether made by college professors or garden-variety Bernie Sanders activists: Socialism has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried. Indeed, even those who oppose such a system are plicit in this sort of...
Today: Debate between R. R. Reno and Rev. Sirico on free markets
Conservative Christians are ing increasingly enticed by the idea of socialism. As many people with good intentions are beginning to consider socialism as a beneficial alternative to capitalism, supporters of the free market would beg to differ. Recently the editor of “First Things”, Rusty Reno, voiced his concerns with capitalism in his essay on Michael Novak’s The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism. Reno criticizes Novak’s view of capitalism and proposes a reexamination of socialism. President and co-founder of the Acton Institute,...
Beyond consumer Christianity: Equipping the church for cultural transformation
Modern evangelicalism’s recent fondness for “church shopping” (or “church hopping”) has led to plenty of perpetual daydreams about the “perfect church” that checks the right boxes fortability and convenience. In turn, many are falling prey to consumeristic tendencies and attitudes that influence their thought and action well beyond Sunday mornings. Indeed, the deleterious impacts of Spectator Christianity are not just confined to the pews of the church or avenues of “formal” or “full-time” ministry. They disable and disempower the church...
What does the Bible say about wealth creation?
What does the Bible say about wealth creation? Can wealth creation lead to Biblical human flourishing? Earlier this year two evangelical groups, theLausanne MovementandBAM Global, released apaper exploringbiblical perspectives on the theme of ‘wealth creation for holistic transformation’ to address these questions and more. The paper begins by considering the meaning of the terms ‘wealth’ and ‘holistic transformation.’ First, they discuss the concept of wealth: Biblically speaking, wealth is a concept embodying strength, power, riches, and substance. Sometimes ‘riches’ and...
Rev. Sirico and R.R. Reno debate the merits of free markets
Should Christians rethink the merits of free markets? Last night The King’s College hosted a debate on that question between First Things editor R.R. Reno and Acton Institute president and co-founder Rev. Robert Sirico. In his opening statement, Reno admits that free markets have done a great deal to promote human flourishing, but says that “markets are human, and like all things human in our fallen world, markets can also impede human flourishing.” Reno claims this is especially true today...
The Paradise Papers: A moral assessment of tax havens from Richard Teather
To hear politicians across the Atlantic tell it, the dark specter of Paradise is haunting the world. The Paradise Papers reveal precisely how wealthy individuals and corporations – including the Queen of England, U2’ssainted front man Bono, the less-than-saintly Madonna, and scores of others – have used offshore tax havens to limit their tax liability. The papers, which were illegally obtained from Appleby law firm and released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, include 13.4 million files dating from...
‘Communism is the increase of the search for the Kingdom of God and His righteousness!’
Following its 100th anniversary, Communism is experiencing a public relations boon, and it has just recruited its most significant Spokesman: Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Jesus (Who, one must assume, was not consulted on the sponsorship) is said to have been the first and most vociferous Scourge of free enterprise and Advocate of socialist economics. This is precisely the argument made in France by Falk Van Gaver in his new bookChristianity vs. Capitalism: The Economy According to Jesus Christ.Perhaps Van Gaver’s...
Edmund Burke’s conservative case for free markets
“Conservatives who believe that free markets are the most optimal of imperfect economic systems thus need to rethink about how to integrate their case for markets into the broader conservative agenda,” says Samuel Gregg in this week’s Acton Commentary. “And here, I’d argue, the man whose thought gave birth to modern conservatism has much to teach us.” Though widely considered modern conservatism’s intellectual progenitor, Edmund Burke’s economic views generally receive sparse attention. Burke’s conservatism is mainly linked to his religious...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved