Abstract
The United States has a divided social welfare state split between public programs and tax subsidies for private benefits. Moreover, this separation is mapped onto divisions of political party and socioeconomic class. Democratic elites prefer creating and expanding public programs that assist the working poor and Republicans prefer using tax subsidies to help wealthier citizens pay for social services and benefits. Are these relationships among partisanship, socioeconomic class, and patterns in social spending reflected in public opinion? Do Democratic voters and the working poor favor public social programs over private? Are Republican voters more likely to support tax subsidies for private welfare over public spending? My analysis shows that while both public spending and tax breaks enjoy similar levels of support in the aggregate, there are partisan and class differences in support for direct social spending versus tax subsidies for social welfare.
Appendix
These are the questions used for the analysis.
Which statement comes closest to your opinion about the deservingness of the poor (rich)?
(A LOT MORE money than they deserve, SOMEWHAT MORE money than they deserve, SLIGHTLY MORE money than they deserve, the right amount of money, SLIGHTLY LESS money than they deserve, SOMEWHAT LESS money than they deserve, A LOT LESS money than they deserve)
Please identify your level of support for tax breaks for health care plans?
(Strongly support, Somewhat support, Neither support nor oppose, Somewhat oppose, and Strongly oppose)
Please identify your level of support for tax breaks for low-income earners?
(Strongly support, Somewhat support, Neither support nor oppose, Somewhat oppose, and Strongly oppose)
Please identify your level of support for tax breaks for retirement plans?
(Strongly support, Somewhat support, Neither support nor oppose, Somewhat oppose, and Strongly oppose)
Please identify your level of support for tax breaks for children’s college education?
(Strongly support, Somewhat support, Neither support nor oppose, Somewhat oppose, and Strongly oppose)
Please identify your level of support for government spending on Aid?
(Too much, Too little, About the right amount)
Please identify your level of support for government spending on public health?
(Too much, Too little, About the right amount)
Please identify your level of support for government spending on the elderly?
(Too much, Too little, About the right amount)
Please identify your level of support for government spending on college affordability?
(Too much, Too little, About the right amount)
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