Americans Completely Distrust Their Government … 19% Say They Trust the Government Always or Most of the Time

DOES ANYONE WONDER WHY ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATES ARE DOING SO WELL?

According to a recent Pew Center poll, just 19% say they can trust the government always or most of the time, among the lowest levels in the past half-century. I would actually question who those 19% are that think they can trust the government that much in this day and age. What is sad and has become a commonplace view by many Americans is that most Americans fell that elected officials put their own ambitions and power ahead of the country. Currently, Republicans are nearly three times as likely as Democrats (12%) to say they are angry with the government. Of course that is the case because Democrats follow Obama in lockstep and the Republican voters are upset that they have a bunch of gutless elected House and Senate members who made promises to get elected and once in power have done nothing but make excuses.

A year ahead of the presidential election, the American public is deeply cynical about government, politics and the nation’s elected leaders in a way that has become quite familiar.

Currently, just 19% say they can trust the government always or most of the time, among the lowest levels in the past half-century. Only 20% would describe government programs as being well-run. And elected officials are held in such low regard that 55% of the public says “ordinary Americans” would do a better job of solving national problems.

Currently, 22% say they are “angry” at the federal government; 57% are “frustrated,” and 18% say they are “basically content.” These sentiments have changed little over the past year, but two years ago – during the partial government shutdown – a record 30% expressed anger at government.

The share of Republicans and Republican leaners saying they are angry with the government is not as high as in October 2013 (32% now, 38% then). Nonetheless, Republicans are nearly three times as likely as Democrats (12%) to say they are angry with the government. And among politically engaged Republicans and Democrats – those who vote frequently and follow politics on a regular basis – the gap is nearly four-to-one (42% to 11%).

Among both Democrats and Republicans, large majorities say they can seldom, if ever, trust the federal government (89% of Republicans, 72% of Democrats). While trust in government among Republicans has varied widely depending on whether a Republican or Democrat is in the White House, Democrats’ views have shown far less change.

Remember America, this is your government and you elected them. Vote them out if you are so dissatisfied. Obviously, a Democrat or Republican is not going to vote for the other parties candidate, but you can toss the establishment candidates of both parties out on their collective ears in the primaries.