Patriot Update

According to a new Pew Research poll, Americans are increasingly worried about the federal government violating their rights. The survey, conducted January 9-13, showed that 53 percent of Americans believe that the federal government “threatens their own personal rights and freedoms,” with 43 percent disagreeing. That is a significant uptick from March 2010, when just 47 percent said that the government threatened their freedom, with 50 percent disagreeing.

Republicans are largely responsible for that increase; 76 percent of Republicans say that the federal government threatens freedoms, and 54 percent said the federal government was a “major” threat. That was up from 62 percent and 47 percent, respectively.

Independents agree with Republicans; 55 percent say the government represents a threat, and 33 percent say it represents a major threat.