Confidence in US government lowest for 50 years
Source: Agencies |
April 20, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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PUBLIC confidence in the United States government is at one of its lowest points in half a century, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. Nearly eight in 10 Americans say they don't trust the federal government and have little faith it can solve the nation's ills.
The survey illustrates the ominous situation President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party face as they struggle to maintain their congressional majorities in this autumn's elections.
The survey found that 22 percent of those questioned say they can trust Washington most of the time and 19 percent say they are content with it. Nearly half say the government negatively affects their daily lives.
"The government's been lying to people for years. Politicians make promises to get elected, and when they get elected, they don't follow through," says Cindy Wanto, 57, a Democrat from Pennsylvania. "There's too much government in my business. It was a problem before Obama, but he's not helping fix it."
"Trust in government rarely gets this low," said Andrew Kohut, director of the center that conducted the survey. "Some of it's a backlash against Obama. But there are a lot of other things going on."
The survey found that Obama's policies were partly to blame for a rise in distrust. But the poll also identified a combination of factors that contributed to the electorate's hostility: the recession Obama inherited from President George W. Bush, a dispirited public, and anger with Congress and politicians of all political leanings.
The survey illustrates the ominous situation President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party face as they struggle to maintain their congressional majorities in this autumn's elections.
The survey found that 22 percent of those questioned say they can trust Washington most of the time and 19 percent say they are content with it. Nearly half say the government negatively affects their daily lives.
"The government's been lying to people for years. Politicians make promises to get elected, and when they get elected, they don't follow through," says Cindy Wanto, 57, a Democrat from Pennsylvania. "There's too much government in my business. It was a problem before Obama, but he's not helping fix it."
"Trust in government rarely gets this low," said Andrew Kohut, director of the center that conducted the survey. "Some of it's a backlash against Obama. But there are a lot of other things going on."
The survey found that Obama's policies were partly to blame for a rise in distrust. But the poll also identified a combination of factors that contributed to the electorate's hostility: the recession Obama inherited from President George W. Bush, a dispirited public, and anger with Congress and politicians of all political leanings.
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