Is government too big?

HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) - The power and size of government has become a hot topic during this election year as conservatives believe the government is too involved in people's lives.

And Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling has re-surfaced those qualms, yet again.  The judgment, which allows the government to mandate individual health care participation, is making voters wonder whether the government should impose policies on personal activities.

It’s a speculation which emerges from the exponential growth of the federal government since 9/11. From the emergence of thousands of government agencies and organizations working on terrorism to a health care overhaul requiring everyone buy insurance, some voters say the government wants to have a say in everything.

“I don't think the government should be able to tell you whether you want to drink a big gulp or just a have a small soda.  [It] seems like that is totally irrelevant for the government,” said Anne Luippold of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s most recent proposal to ban the sale of large quantities of soda at sports arenas.

And this disbelief in government is being felt across the nation.  A recent New York Times poll found approval ratings for Congress have hit all time lows, with rates peaking in the early 2000s, and plummeting last year; when only 1 in 10 voters believed Congress was doing its job.  But despite the dissatisfaction, there are those who believe the government should play a critical role.

“I think government is essential to kind of even the playing field for people. I think the market does a good job of taking care of itself and I think we need government to make it a little more equitable,” said Paul Rilla of Amherst.

Analysts say the divide comes down to the party affiliation. The majority of the declared Republicans who respond to these polls believe the federal government has too much power over states.