Spending Priorities in 2012

Many Americans support spending more on domestic issues, according to an analysis of the 2012 General Social Survey by Tom W. Smith. These are the five budget items on which the largest percentage of the public thinks the government is spending too little...

1. Education: 75.6%
2. Assistance to the poor: 63.9%
3. Developing alternative energy: 61.9%
4. Health: 61.2%
5. Halting crime: 59.0%

And these are the five budget items on which the largest percentage of the public thinks the government is spending too much...

1. Foreign aid: 68.1%
2. Welfare: 47.6%
3. Assistance to big cities: 40.2%
4. Space exploration: 32.2%
5. Military and defense: 31.6%

Source: Trends in National Spending Priorities, 1973-2012, Tom W. Smith, General Social Survey Trend Report, NORC