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WASHINGTON — Tea party activists, who are becoming a force in U.S. politics, want the federal government out of their lives — except when it comes to creating jobs.
More than 90 percent of tea party backers interviewed in a new Bloomberg National Poll say the United States is verging more toward socialism than capitalism, the federal government is trying to control too many aspects of private life and more decisions should be made at the state level.
At the same time, 70 percent of those who sympathize with the tea party, which organized protests this week against President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, want a federal government that fosters job creation.
They also look to the government to rein in Wall Street, with almost half saying the government should do something about executive bonuses. Supporters are also conflicted over whether private-enterprise elements should be introduced into government programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
"You would think any idea that involves more government action would be anathema, and that is just not the case," said J. Ann Selzer, the pollster who created the survey.
Tea party supporters are likely to be older, white and male. Forty percent are age 55 and over, compared with 32 percent of all poll respondents; just 22 percent are under the age of 35, 79 percent are white, and 61 percent are men. Many — 44 percent — identify themselves as "born-again" Christians, compared with 33 percent of all respondents.
The poll of 1,002 U.S. adults was conducted March 19-22 by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, Iowa. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
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