49% say government poses immediate threat to rights, freedoms

Republicans much more likely to see government as threat

Americans give very diverse explanations for these views

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Almost half of Americans, 49%, say the federal government poses "an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens," similar to what was found in previous surveys conducted over the last five years. When this question was first asked in 2003, less than a third of Americans held this attitude.

Do you think the federal government poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens, or not?

see charts and reasons given: http://www.gallup.com/poll/185720/half-continue-say-gov-immediate-threat.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication