A Crisis of Public Confidence Faces America's Political Class

[Amy6627]

Link http://www.examiner.com/blogs/tapscotts_copy_desk/2007/6/21/A-Crisis-of-Confidence-Faces-Americas-Political-Class

Nothing is so critical to the continuing health of a republic than the confidence of people that their elected representatives have their best interests at heart in their decision-making. Once that confidence is lost, a revolution of one sort or another becomes likely. In America, such a crisis could be right around the corner.

Consider the latest Gallup Poll, which finds only 14 percent of the American people have "a great deal of" confidence in Congress or "quite a lot," compared to 19 percent a year ago. That is the lowest confidence rating Gallup has ever recorded for Congress since the survey firm began measuring public opinion on major American institutions in 1973.

Congress is far from alone in suffering plummeting confidence ratings. The presidency dropped from 33 percent to 25 percent and the Supreme Court from 40 percent to 34 percent during the same period. The trend line for all three branches has been downward since 9/11.

The "fourth branch" of government, the mainstream media, also has declining public confidence ratings. Television news dropped from 31 percent to 23 percent, while newspapers were down to 22 percent, compared to 30 percent a year ago.

Link:
http://www.examiner.com/blogs/tapscotts_copy_desk/2007/6/21/A-Crisis-of-Confidence-Faces-Americas-Political-Class

[Skittles]

1. they all suck

I think most people feel the way I do - that their interests are no longer being represented

[Solly Mack]

2. I have no - none - zilch - zip - faith, confidence, belief - whatever

in my government.

[iamahaingttta]

3. Maybe if they would stop being such hypocritical assholes...

...and do the right thing once in a while, we would have some confidence in them.
It's their damn fault, and there's gonna be a revolution if they don't shape up, and fast!

[cassiepriam]

4. My Aunt Fannie could run the country better.

And she wouldn't drain the US Treasury either.

[cassiepriam]

5. Maybe the govt should be run like jury duty. Random selection from the

general population. All adult Americans eligible.
1-2 year stint.

Cannot be any worse than what we have now.

[DKRC]

6. The numbers are plummeting because more of the sheeple are waking up

and answering these polls with their new awareness of how we've been lied to for the benefit of a fascist government.

I've put my Congress critters on notice that I'm volunteering/voting for ANY progressive challenger instead of them. I'm sick of the hypocrisy. No incumbent gets my vote when their terms come to an end.