Increasing Support for Government Regulation

Since 2006, public support for increased government regulation of certain types of businesses has increased, as many of our industries prove themselves in the public mind to be less trustworthy.

Small majorities of U.S. adults think three industries should be more regulated than they are now:

• The oil industry (53 percent)
• Pharmaceuticals and drug companies (53 percent)
• Health insurance companies (52 percent).

Pluralities of Americans believe managed care companies, such as HMOs (45 percent), electric and gas utilities (41 percent) and tobacco companies (41 percent), should have more regulation. Just 15 percent or less of all adults believe that statements made by companies in these six industries are "generally honest and trustworthy."

(Hat tip to Robert Weissman and David Sirota.)