A new Gallup poll shows that a majority of Americans view the government as too powerful and obtrusive. 

The poll found: 

* 
59% of Americans now believe the federal government has too much power 

* 
46% believe "the federal government poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens". Only slightly more (51%) disagree with that statement * 

* Gallup notes: 

One can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is 4 percentage points. 

That means that as much as half of Americans may actually agree the government poses a threat.