Thanks, Ruy:
Look at those sweet trendlines! In July 1994, 41 percent disagreed that the government should help care for those incapable of doing it themselves. By 2007, that number's down to 28 percent. Similarly, there was 10 percent drop in those disagreeing that the government should "guarantee" shelter and food. And remember: This is not during a particularly happy economic moment. Folks still feel squeezed and report tepid -- at best -- impressions of the national economic moment. But their social generosity is increasing even so. There's no guarantee that any of this will last, but what we're seeing looks more like an ideological shift than a situational one.
