More Shifts in Attutudes about the Role of Government

Here's an interesting graphic from the Charlie Cook piece linked to below. After saying that they want government to do less the past two years, people are more likely to say that they want it to do more, which is what they were telling pollsters before the 2008 elections. What drives this shift?

One theory is that the public, and especially independents who are unattached to either political party, shifts its opinions based on recent events. Prior to 2008, the general perception was that government was not doing enough to reign in careless business practices that imposed harm on the public and they responded not only by telling pollsters they wanted to see more done by government, but voted - in 2006 and 2008 - for the party that would deliver.

After 2008 when the party they voted for did just that, they had second thoughts, decided government was doing too much, and voted Republican to reign government in. No surprise then that once Republicans announce that they intend to scale back government that people have second thoughts.

This is hardly the first time this has occurred and wont be the last.