Americans Have Lost Trust in Government For Good Reason

[Draggingtree]

Real Clear Policy :

October 21, 2016

Americans Have Lost Trust in Government For Good Reason

By Paul Roderick Gregory

 

Donald Trump’s “The system is rigged” resonates because it reflects what ordinary people think. According to Gallup, only three institutions — the military, small business, and the police — are trusted by more than half. Gallup shows that Americans are as likely to trust Internet news (which the media scorns as “unfiltered”), as T.V. news and newspapers. Trust in Congress, meanwhile, has collapsed from one in three to one in 10 since 2000.

 

These figures foretell the emergence of anti-status-quo presidential candidates, who promise to restore confidence in our institutions. Any status-quo candidate should be defeated unless the conversation is shifted to peripheral issues, such as character and personality. Indeed, “Restore America’s Greatness” Donald Trump and “A Political Revolution is Coming” Bernie Sanders reflect the burgeoning anti-establishment fervor of main street America.

 

Congress

 

Congress has approval ratings approaching zero. Common explanations are that Congress is too partisan, divided, dysfunctional, and lazy. The presidential primaries suggest a more important reason: The bases of both parties reject status-quo candidates as not working for their interests and being in the pocket of special interests.