Americans want the government to create jobs through additional spending though they are pessimistic about the results, according to the Bloomberg National Poll, a quarterly survey of Americans.

Two-thirds of Americans surveyed back additional spending on infrastructure and six of 10 support more spending on alternative energy to stimulate job growth. A tax credit for businesses that hire new workers also gains backing from 7 of 10 Americans. This support comes even as the majority of respondents express doubts the federal government will help cut joblessness, with 51 percent pessimistic about the prospects.

While Wall Street firms are recovering, their standing with the American public is not. Two-thirds of Americans polled say they have an unfavorable view of financial executives. More than half say big financial companies are only out to enrich themselves and also say they should not have received government aid. Sixty-four percent of respondents said bailing out banks was a bad idea. To avoid future rescues, 52 percent of respondents said banks should be subject to stricter regulation. A minority, 31 percent, would allow troubled banks to fail and an even smaller number, 10 percent, favor breaking up big banks, according to the Bloomberg National Poll, conducted Dec. 3-7, which interviewed a random sample of 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 or older for a snapshot of Americans' thoughts on Obama's administration and the economy.