Could Libertarian cult-icon Neil Peart – drummer and song-writer for the Canadian band Rush – be the Idea Man of the GOP? If it’s true, he would be on the cutting edge of an already large and growing constituency: voters who don’t trust government.

And, it’s not just when it comes to health care.

The enclosed tunes are just a down payment when it comes to Rush’s anti-government thematics – from Trees to 2112. And, before any stray Govluv types listen to ‘Temples and claim brotherhood with the band, Getty Lee sung the song with sniveling sarcasm. It’s a joke. Do you get it?

P.O.S.’ Alex Bratty blogged on the multiple bungles of government and Americans’ increasing reluctance to believe providing health care is the government’s responsibility. (See her post here.)

But the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows this feeling isn’t just limited to health care. Rather, it increasingly reflects the architecture of how Americans feel. In June of 2002 the NBC/Wall Street Journal survey showed 38{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} of Americans trusted their government to do what is right at least most of the time. On the flip-side, a whopping 61{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} believed their government did the right thing only some of the time or never.

So, as far back as 2002, government hasn’t had a wealth of support to do ANYTHING, much less a government take over of health care.

Americans wary of government in ‘02 hate it now. The October ‘09 NBC/WSJ survey showed 76{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} of Americans now don’t trust their government to do the right thing while only 23{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} do. That represents a net 30{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} shift AGAINST government over the last seven years.

Just how much is the middle-American pump primed against government? The October ‘09 survey showed just 16{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} of the Independents trust government most or all of the time. In contrast, 84{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} trusts government only some of the time or never.

So let’s get this straight: Americans now have even less trust for universal Democratic government than they did for universal Republican government in 2005 – just prior to a chain of events that started with Republicans losing everything after controlling everything. Or, to quote Rush’s Tom Sawyer, “He knows that changes aren’t permanent, but change is. Change is the only constant.”

We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls

Look around at this world we’ve made
Equality our stock in trade
Come and join the Brotherhood of Man
Oh, what a nice, contented world
Let the banners be unfurled
Hold the Red Star proudly high in hand

(Sung with sarcasm, of course.)