Most Americans satisfied with government, poll shows

Public opinion toward the federal government is fairly positive, a new Gallup poll suggests.

Fifty-nine percent of Americans surveyed early this month said they were satisfied with the way the nation was being governed, while 39 percent said they were unsatisfied. Fifty-two percent said the federal government had the right amount of power. Thirty-nine percent said the government had too much power.

Pollsters asked people whether they thought the government should promote traditional values in our society or not. Fifty-six percent said traditional values should be promoted, and 38 percent said the government should stay neutral on values.

When asked about current government regulation of business and industry, 35 percent said there is too much, 31 percent said too little, and 31 percent said there was the right amount.

The majority-71 percent-said they had a "great deal" or a "fair amount" of trust and confidence in the federal government's ability to handle international politics. Slightly fewer, 63 percent, had faith in the government's capability to deal with domestic problems.