In Depth: Americans' Distrust Of Government
The American public wants the government reformed and its power curtailed, according to new findings from the Pew Research Center. The survey found that Americans generally don't want government solutions for the nation's problems — and that favorability ratings for both major parties and Congress have reached record lows. Here, a breakdown of some key findings.
- Trust & Satisfaction
- Who's Angry?
- By Administration
- Distrust Of Institutions
- Views Of Congress
Trust In Government And Views Of National Conditions
A dismal economy, an unhappy public, partisan-based backlash and discontent with Congress and elected officials have created what Pew calls "a perfect storm of conditions" associated with distrust of government. Just 22 percent of Americans say that they can trust the federal government almost always or most of the time, among the lowest measures in half a century.
Who's Angry At The Federal Government?
Intense anti-government views are concentrated among Republicans, independents who lean Republican and those who agree with the Tea Party movement, Pew found. Some 56 percent of those polled say they are "frustrated" with the federal government, findings that are in line with previous surveys. But the percentage of people who say they're "angry" with the government has doubled since 2000, to 21 percent. These attitudes could have an impact on the congressional elections in November: Independents who are frustrated with the government are committed to voting and say they favor Republican candidates over Democratic ones in their district 66 percent to 13 percent.
| Angry with the federal government |
Government is a major threat |
|
|---|---|---|
| Total | 20% | 30% |
| Republican | 30% | 43% |
| Democrat | 9% | 18% |
| Independent | 25% | 33% |
| Among independents | ||
| Lean Republican | 37% | 50% |
| Lean Democratic | 15% | 21% |
| View of Tea Party | ||
| Agree with (22%) | 43% | 57% |
| Disagree with (14%) | 8% | 9% |
| Neither/DK (61%) | 15% | 25% |
Trust In Government By Administration
Trust in government is typically higher among members of the party that controls the White House than among those in the "out" party. But Republicans' views of government change more dramatically than do Democrats', depending on which party is in control. This can be seen in the Obama era, where the president's policies, including overhauling the health care system, have upset Republicans. Only 13 percent of Republicans today say they can trust Washington to do the right thing.
| Administration | Total | Rep. | Dem. | Ind. | R-D diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barack Obama (D) | 22% | 13% | 33% | 18% | -21% |
| George W. Bush (R) | 37% | 50% | 26% | 28% | +24% |
| Bill Clinton (D) | 29% | 25% | 34% | 24% | -9% |
| George H.W. Bush (R) | 36% | 44% | 29% | 30% | +15% |
| Ronald Reagan (R) | 42% | 53% | 34% | 38% | +19% |
| Jimmy Carter (D) | 29% | 27% | 33% | 27% | -6% |
| Nixon/Ford (R) | 40% | 51% | 41% | 43% | +10% |
| Kennedy/Johnson (D) | 68% | 62% | 72% | 65% | -10% |
| NET: Republican admins | 39% | 50% | 30% | 33% | +20% |
| NET: Democratic admins | 30% | 27% | 38% | 27% | -11% |
Notes
Figures show the average percent saying they always or most of the time trust the government in Washington to do what is right across surveys conducted over the course of each administration. The Kennedy/Johnson and Nixon/Ford administrations are combined because relatively few surveys were conducted during those periods.Public's Negative Views Of Institutions Not Limited To Government
The public is discontent not only with the White House and Congress but also with many of the country's major institutions -- most notably, banks and other financial companies and the national news media.
| Institution | Positive | Negative | Other/DK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks and financial institutions | 22% | 69% | 10% |
| Congress | 24% | 65% | 12% |
| Federal government | 25% | 65% | 9% |
| Large corporations | 25% | 64% | 12% |
| National news media | 31% | 57% | 12% |
| Federal agencies and departments | 31% | 54% | 16% |
| Labor unions | 32% | 49% | 18% |
| Entertainment industry | 33% | 51% | 16% |
| Obama administration | 45% | 45% | 10% |
| Colleges and universities | 61% | 26% | 13% |
| Churches and religious organizations | 63% | 22% | 15% |
| Technology companies | 68% | 18% | 14% |
| Small businesses | 70% | 19% | 10% |
Notes
Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding.Favorability Ratings For Congress Reach Record Lows
Congress and the major political parties face record discontent among Americans. Both the Democratic and Republican parties' favorable ratings are at their lowest point ever in Pew Research surveys. And favorable opinions of Congress have dropped to half of what they were a year ago. Sixty-five percent of those surveyed now say they have an unfavorable view of Congress, the lowest rating in 25 years.