A recent survey by the Napolitan Institute has shed light on the perspectives of federal agency managers regarding individual freedoms in the U.S. According to the poll, 51% of federal managers believe that Americans have "somewhat" to "far too much freedom." This contrasts sharply with the views of the general public, where only 16% agreed, and 57% felt the government exerts too much control over their lives.
The survey also found a partisan divide. While 68% of Democratic agency managers felt that Americans have too much freedom, only 33% of their Republican counterparts shared that view. However, both groups of managers showed a level of agreement when it came to regulations. Over half of government managers (54%) believe that if their research supports a regulation, it should be implemented even if the public opposes it. This includes 60% of Democratic managers and 49% of Republicans.
The survey also highlighted bipartisan support among agency managers for censorship on social media platforms and restrictions on private gun ownership, with 53% of Republican managers and 48% of Democrats supporting the idea of regulating speech on social media.
This survey indicates a gap between the views of federal agency managers, often referred to as the "elite," and the general public on key issues such as freedom, regulations, and governmental control.
Keywords