It's news if a poli-sci study doesn't find that a given reasonably-effective public program has very broad public support in all its particulars but is disliked

It's news if a poli-sci study doesn't find that a given reasonably-effective public program has very broad public support in all its particulars but is disliked and supposed to be far more wasteful than it actually is when referred to by name (the most comical of these describe the program, warts and all, as the expected results of some proposed reform, and solicit comparison to the current, identical system). The public also tends to judge that we spend a lot more money on programs that have received tons of hate from right-wing pundits over the years than we actually do, e.g. foreign aid. I think it's entirely fair to say that the average person doesn't have half a clue what the government even does. Hell, a disturbing percentage can't tell you how marginal income tax rates work, even at an ELI5 level, or have no idea to whom the "death tax" they hate so much even applies (usually they believe, incorrectly, that they or someone they know will be subject to it). Crediting them with having some well-considered moral stance on the role of the state is probably far too generous.