Poll: Confused Americans want government to shrink, but also stay the same size

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll captures the truly impressive confusion that marks American politics as we head toward the 2016 election. Just 42 percent disagreed with the statement "The federal government should have very little authority over domestic affairs," but when asked about which specific programs should be cut, respondents were much more hesitant.

For instance, only 28 percent agreed that "Most federal regulatory agencies, like the Food and Drug Administration, should be abolished or significantly reduced in size, while fewer than 15 percent were willing to say that "Government programs assisting the elderly like Social Security or Medicare should be abolished."

This presents a conundrum for libertarian-leaning Republican candidates, as voters are apt to applaud their generalized calls for reducing the size and scope of government but object to specific proposals for actually doing so.

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