According to a new Gallup poll, roughly one in five Americans, or 22 percent, say the economy is underregulated. A near-majority, 47 percent, say there is too much regulation. About 27 percent say the amount of regulation is right.

The results of the poll are not all that shocking. They're a continuation of a trend seen since late 2009. Every year Gallup has asked about regulation since then, between 45 and 50 percent of Americans say there is too much regulation, with between 20 and 30 percent each saying there is too little regulation or the right amount.



Still, one might have guessed that the financial crisis would lead to greater demand for more economic regulation. Polls asking specifically about banking regulation may have shown different results.

Although a gap between Republicans and Democrats on this issue is to be expected, the vastness of the gap is surprising. Republicans are 55 percentage points more likely to say there is too much regulation.

Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.