Turning to the budget battles in the states, strong majorities say they are comfortable with states requiring their employees to pay more for their retirement and health care to balance budget deficits. But they oppose stripping public employees' collective-bargaining rights -- as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) and Ohio Republicans are pursuing in their states. In the poll, 68% find it acceptable requiring public employees to contribute more of their pay for retirement benefits; 63% are fine with requiring these employees to pay more for their health-care benefits; and 58% are OK with freezing public employees' salaries for one year. However, just 33% say it's acceptable -- and 62% say it's unacceptable -- to eliminate some employees collective-bargaining rights as way to deal with state budget deficits. Americans don't like taking away "rights"; they may be loathe to award NEW rights. But once folks have them, they don't like taking them away even if they are uncomfortable or unhappy with some aspects of those rights or how they are being used. Another example of this: guns.

More government, not less: This is another striking finding from the survey: For the first time since Feb. 2009 -- right after Obama took office -- a majority (51%) believes the government should do more to solve the nation’s problems and meet the needs of people. And get this: That opinion is shared by a majority (an equal 51%) of independents. Americans are feeling shaky again about the economy, and our pollsters believe there's a correlation between the government-should-do-more number and the increased anxiety about the economic recovery.