Matt Collins
10-03-2007, 09:50 PM
New Polls: Public Distrust of Gov't Below Watergate-Era Level
A startling new Gallup poll finds that Americans now "express less trust in the federal government than at any point in the past decade, and trust in many federal government institutions is now lower than it was during the Watergate era, generally recognized as the low point in American history for trust in government."
Gallup has polled Americans about trust in government since 1972. This year's poll, conducted Sept. 14-16, found:
* Barely half of Americans, only 51%, say they have a "great deal" or "fair amount" of trust in the federal government to handle international problems -- the lowest number ever.
* Less than half -- 47% -- trust the federal government to handle domestic issues -- the lowest percentage since 1976.
* Only 43% trust the executive branch. That's only 3% higher than just before President Nixon's resignation in 1974.
* Only 50% trust Congress -- the lowest percentage ever.
New candidates for office aren't doing much better.
* Just 55% of Americans express trust in the "men and women in political life in this country who either hold or are running for public office." That matches the all-time low.
This massive distrust of the federal government is echoed in another new poll, conducted by the Associated Press and Ipsos, Sept. 10-12.
Among that poll's findings:
* Only 33% said they approve of President Bush's overall performance.
* Congress fared even worse than Bush. Only 26% approved of Congress's overall performance.
* Only 28% think the country is moving in the right direction.
The poll indicates that half of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents, and large majorities of Democrats and independents, think the country is moving in the wrong direction.
These findings are consistent with other Associated Press and Ipsos polls this past year, indicating that the public distrust of the federal government is consistent and long-lasting.
Not all of this sentiment is pro-liberty. Some people are mad because the government has failed to successfully implement statist programs, such as national healthcare. On the other hand, much of it is broadly libertarian -- disgust with wars, restrictions on civil liberties, runaway spending, and so on.
(Sources: Editor and Publisher, and Associated Press: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003647275 http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6918813,00.html )
A startling new Gallup poll finds that Americans now "express less trust in the federal government than at any point in the past decade, and trust in many federal government institutions is now lower than it was during the Watergate era, generally recognized as the low point in American history for trust in government."
Gallup has polled Americans about trust in government since 1972. This year's poll, conducted Sept. 14-16, found:
* Barely half of Americans, only 51%, say they have a "great deal" or "fair amount" of trust in the federal government to handle international problems -- the lowest number ever.
* Less than half -- 47% -- trust the federal government to handle domestic issues -- the lowest percentage since 1976.
* Only 43% trust the executive branch. That's only 3% higher than just before President Nixon's resignation in 1974.
* Only 50% trust Congress -- the lowest percentage ever.
New candidates for office aren't doing much better.
* Just 55% of Americans express trust in the "men and women in political life in this country who either hold or are running for public office." That matches the all-time low.
This massive distrust of the federal government is echoed in another new poll, conducted by the Associated Press and Ipsos, Sept. 10-12.
Among that poll's findings:
* Only 33% said they approve of President Bush's overall performance.
* Congress fared even worse than Bush. Only 26% approved of Congress's overall performance.
* Only 28% think the country is moving in the right direction.
The poll indicates that half of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents, and large majorities of Democrats and independents, think the country is moving in the wrong direction.
These findings are consistent with other Associated Press and Ipsos polls this past year, indicating that the public distrust of the federal government is consistent and long-lasting.
Not all of this sentiment is pro-liberty. Some people are mad because the government has failed to successfully implement statist programs, such as national healthcare. On the other hand, much of it is broadly libertarian -- disgust with wars, restrictions on civil liberties, runaway spending, and so on.
(Sources: Editor and Publisher, and Associated Press: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003647275 http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6918813,00.html )