Public Opinion on U.S. Federal and Intergovernmental Issues in 2006: Continuity and Change

A 2006 trend survey found that Americans most often select local government as giving them the most for their money, followed by the federal and state governments. African Americans are most supportive of the federal government as giving them the most for their money; Hispanics are most supportive of local government. As in many previous years, the local property tax was viewed as the worst tax, followed by the federal income tax, state sales tax, and state income tax. Americans displayed reduced trust and confidence in the federal government; however, trust in all three spheres of government—federal, state, and local—dropped between 2004 and 2006, possibly reflective of the poor response of all governments to Hurricane Katrina. Analysis of surveys since 1972 reveals that there has been a long-term decline in the public's support for the federal government and a corresponding increase in support of state and especially local governments.