AMERICAN PUBLIC’S TRUST IN ITSELF AT NEW LOW

[applegrove]

AMERICAN PUBLIC’S TRUST IN ITSELF AT NEW LOW

by Jeffrey M. Jones at Gallup (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/27/american-public-poll_n_4005692.html

"SNIP.........................


“Americans' trust in "the American people" to make judgments about political issues facing the country has declined each year since 2009 and, at 61%, is down nearly 20 percentage points from its recent peak in 2005. Still, that exceeds the 46% of Americans who trust the "men and women … who either hold or are running for public office," which is one point above the historical low from 2011….The public's declining trust in the American people to make judgments about political issues could be part of a more general process of declining trust in most governing institutions. It may also be an outgrowth of increasing polarization in the United States on key issues. Americans may trust "the people" less when they are more conscious that segments of the population hold views radically different from their own….Americans' average level of trust in the American people during the 1970s was 85%, including a high of 86% in 1976. The average since 2001 is 71%.” [Gallup]

......................SNIP"

[Uncle Joe]

2. The irony is, this might be good news.

The American People have been pretty much hypnotized over the past 50+ years, living in a sort of stupor, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee.

AMERICAN PUBLIC’S TRUST IN ITSELF AT NEW LOW - Jeffrey M. Jones: “Americans' trust in "the American people" to make judgments about political issues facing the country has declined each year since 2009 and, at 61%, is down nearly 20 percentage points from its recent peak in 2005. Still, that exceeds the 46% of Americans who trust the "men and women … who either hold or are running for public office," which is one point above the historical low from 2011….The public's declining trust in the American people to make judgments about political issues could be part of a more general process of declining trust in most governing institutions. It may also be an outgrowth of increasing polarization in the United States on key issues. Americans may trust "the people" less when they are more conscious that segments of the population hold views radically different from their own….Americans' average level of trust in the American people during the 1970s was 85%, including a high of 86% in 1976. The average since 2001 is 71%.” [Gallup]

Awareness is the first step to recovery.

Thanks for the thread, applegrove.

[applegrove]

3. I was thinking maybe it is the start of the bewilderment phase when you have

been terribly used. And you are starting to put together what really happened. You are right that recognizing that another group out their holding opinions and experiences different than you is the start. Next comes realizing you have been fooled deliberately. I hope that is where some republicans are. And maybe Obamacare will hit it home in the years to come: where you are free to move from your job, where you can get preventive care, and that it doesn't cost more than the old system but is so much better.

That same sentence jumped out at me. I tend to skim read till something just pops and that did.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Precisely and I believe that we're on the path to that direction.

Having said that, there are powerful forces at work trying to block or divert the path.