Poll: New low for government trust

[orenbus]

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/government-trust-poll-96773.html?hp=r4

Less than half of Americans trust the government to handle problems, a all-time low, according to a new poll.

Just 49 percent of Americans said they had a great deal or fair amount of confidence in the federal government to handle international problems, according to a Gallup poll released Friday. The previous low was 51 percent in 2007.

The public’s trust is even lower when it comes to domestic issues. Just 42 percent of Americans answered with a great deal or fair amount of confidence in the government to handle issues at home, one point below the previous low from 2011.

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Only 1% of us have ANY reason to trust our government

[forestpath]

4. +1000

[woo me with science]

9. +1

[liberal_at_heart]

13. +1000000

[Raksha]

21. +1000

[JoePhilly]

2. If we can push it a little lower, the only people voting will be the far right.

Then we can cut taxes, and drown the evil government in a bath tub.

That's the plan.

[pscot]

3. Maybe you could 'splain that to me

It sounds like you're saying that if we stopped trying to influence policy, people would begin to trust government again.

[bhikkhu]

17. Good government begins with involvement, and high expectations

I don't know if trust is really a necessary component of either. I don't "trust" the police, for example, but I have respect for the people who do the job, and I have high expectations of them. Same goes for politicians. If you can't say what you want, the odds of getting it are slim. If you have no idea of what good government looks like (and that requires an educated perspective), the odds of getting it are slim.

I think that trust is harped on mostly by the right wing as a way of creating the malaise that discourages involvement, lowers expectations, and creates the sense of powerlessness that leads to low voter turn-outs, which leads directly to things like the republican majority in the house. The more they can fans the flames, the better their prospects.

[woo me with science]

6. Aw, c'mon. What could you POSSIBLY be talking about?

Just LOOK at all the fine representing going on!

Study: "Trade" Deal Would Mean a Pay Cut for 90% of U.S. Workers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023661805

Obama Appoints Bain Capital Consultant Jeff Ziets to Top Post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023662209

Obama selects former Monsanto lobbyist to be his TPP chief agriculture negotiator
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023662210

White House: No Subsidies for Union Health Plans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014594512

War Criminal Henry Kissinger Top Speaker At State Department Conference
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023660916

Kerry is meeting with Kissinger today for advice on Syria
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023646267

Pentagon says "boots on the ground" may be needed in Syria after all
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023670821

The USDA’s Reckless Plan to Decrease Food Safety
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023670859

The Totally Unfair And Bitterly Uneven 'Recovery,' In 12 Charts - HuffPo
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023662029

Larry Summers Gets 'Full-Throated Defense' From Obama In Capitol Hill Meeting
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014553343#post1

This is a complete list of Wall Street CEOs prosecuted for their role in the financial crisis
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3653154

Wall Street will get away with massive wave of criminality of 2008 - Statute of Limitations
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022516719

[russspeakeasy]

8. +73,000

[polichick]

12. When you look at Obama's appointments, it's just sad...

Like he just couldn't resist trying to be part of the club.

[leftstreet]

7. Thanks a lot, Congress!

Thanks to the greedy, do-nothing billionaires and wannabes who drive policy, the 'government' - which is actually made up of thousands and thousands of working class people - gets a hated reputation

When we need solidarity more than ever, the greedy do-nothings have turned us against the last large labor group out there!

[woo me with science]

10. kick

[Hekate]

11. Mission Accomplished: first GWBush, now the GOP Congress. Just so you know where the blame goes....

... starting with Reagan.

[GoCubsGo]

19. Was just about to post that.

You beat me to it. I will add that, unfortunately, they accomplished a second mission: The dumbing down of America as far as civics go. They did a great job with the "government is evil and useless" propaganda, and saw to it that civics is no longer taught in school. Most people don't have a fucking clue as to how the government they hate so much even works. Now, too many people blame the current President for everything, without recognizing that Congress controls spending, not the President. They blame Obama for the sequester, without recognizing that it was Congress that passed the damn thing, and that it would not have passed without the republican-controlled Congress, or the filibuster-happy republicans in the Senate. It's disgusting.

[Hekate]

20. That sort of ignorance goes double for some of the most opinionated...

... posters on the Left, including here. Time was, most here understood basic civics. (Meta be damned. If the shoe fits, wear it. If it doesn't, do a public service and help educate your fellows.) Too much of the time I feel like I'm doing this

[LittleBlue]

14. Good example of why people go to libertarianism

When people lose faith in the government to help them, they turn against it.

All the Democrats who side with the 1% are helping to recruit for the Tea Party and the Ron/Rand Paul Republicans. Those who are mainly young and their political opinions haven't solidified, so these will be opponents for 60+ years.

[liberal_at_heart]

16. yes it seems the democratic establishment is just as stubborn about not listening to

their voters as the republican establishment is. What the establishment needs to know is that the Millennials are anti-establishment so they better be better at adapting than the republicans are or they will be left in the dust just as fast as the republicans have been.

[Uncle Joe]

15. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, orenbus.

[woo me with science]

18. kick