47 Percent of Americans Say Health Care Law Has Decreased Their Confidence In Government's Ability to Solve Problems

The latest
Reason-Rupe poll finds that the troubled implementation of
the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has caused 47 percent of Americans to
lose confidence in government’s ability to solve
problems. 

Eleven percent of Americans say the health care rollout has
increased their confidence in government’s ability to solve
problems, while 41 percent say the law’s implementation hasn’t made
much of a difference either way.

In fact, even a quarter of those with favorable opinions of the
health care law say the roll-out decreased their confidence in
government.

Twenty-seven percent of Democrats, 73 percent of Republicans and
49 percent of independents say the health care law’s roll-out has
decreased their confidence in government’s ability to solve
problems.

Those with incomes higher than $75,000 a year were more likely
(56 percent) to say implementation of the ACA has decreased their
confidence in government while 34 percent said it made no
difference. Conversely, those with incomes lower than $75,000 a
year were about equally likely to say the ACA roll-out decreased
their confidence in government (44 percent) or that it made no
difference (43 percent).

Young Americans under 35 were least shaken by the ACA
implementation. While 51 percent of those over 35 say they’ve lost
trust in government’s efficacy, 37 percent of young Americans
agree. Instead a plurality (47 percent) of Americans under 35 say
the law’s roll-out has not impacted their view of government.

Among those reporting a favorable view of the federal health
care law, only one in five, 21 percent, say the law’s
implementation has increased their confidence in the government’s
ability to solve problems while 55 percent say it hasn’t made much
of a difference.

Nationwide telephone poll conducted Dec 4-8 2013 interviewed
1011 adults on both mobile (506) and landline (505) phones, with a
margin of error +/- 3.7%. Princeton Survey Research Associates
International executed the nationwide Reason-Rupe survey. Columns
may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Full poll results,
detailed tables, and methodology found here. Sign
up for notifications of new releases of the Reason-Rupe
poll here.