The author addresses the problem of the public's attitude toward the issues of educational finance and relates it to the attitude on government spending a a whole. From the results of tax and expenditure limitations on ballot measures in 1978 and 1979, he observes that there is no national movement to copy California's Proposition 13. Polls taken in 1978 to assess citizens' opinions on taxes, government, education, and the general state of the nation made clear that people wanted to cut government waste but not government programs. Similarly, in a poll taken in California specifically on issues in educational effectiveness, voters expressed strong support for educational programs in general but were concerned most with decline in quality, poor management, and cost increases in schooling because of inflation. Respondents also favored giving all school districts, whether rich or poor, an equal expenditure per pupil. To maintain public support for schools, it is concluded that educators should address the concerns of waste and quality. (JW)