47 Percent of Americans Say Health Care Law Has Decreased Their Confidence In Government's Ability to Solve Problems

The latest Reason-Rupe poll finds that the troubled implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has caused 47 percent of Americans to lose confidence in government's ability to solve problems. 

Eleven percent of Americans say the health care rollout has increased their confidence in government's ability to solve problems, while 41 percent say the law's implementation hasn't made much of a difference either way.

In fact, even a quarter of those with favorable opinions of the health care law say the roll-out decreased their confidence in government.

Twenty-seven percent of Democrats, 73 percent of Republicans and 49 percent of independents say the health care law's roll-out has decreased their confidence in government's ability to solve problems.

Those with incomes higher than $75,000 a year were more likely (56 percent) to say implementation of the ACA has decreased their confidence in government while 34 percent said it made no difference. Conversely, those with incomes lower than $75,000 a year were about equally likely to say the ACA roll-out decreased their confidence in government (44 percent) or that it made no difference (43 percent).

Young Americans under 35 were least shaken by the ACA implementation. While 51 percent of those over 35 say they've lost trust in government's efficacy, 37 percent of young Americans agree. Instead a plurality (47 percent) of Americans under 35 say the law's roll-out has not impacted their view of government.

Among those reporting a favorable view of the federal health care law, only one in five, 21 percent, say the law's implementation has increased their confidence in the government's ability to solve problems while 55 percent say it hasn't made much of a difference.

Nationwide telephone poll conducted Dec 4-8 2013 interviewed 1011 adults on both mobile (506) and landline (505) phones, with a margin of error +/- 3.7%. Princeton Survey Research Associates International executed the nationwide Reason-Rupe survey. Columns may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Full poll results, detailed tables, and methodology found here. Sign up for notifications of new releases of the Reason-Rupe poll here.