Americans' Faith In Government: A Troubling Decline

Americans' trust in their government has been declining for decades, with only 20% of adults saying they trust Washington to do the right thing. This is a worrying trend, especially considering that in 1964, 3 out of 4 Americans trusted their government to do the right thing. The decline in trust is not limited to the government but extends to other institutions as well, including the media, courts, police, and organized religion. Various factors contribute to this decline, including the expanding role of the government, rising public ignorance of how it works, and deepening partisanship. While the government's performance in certain areas has been commendable, the American people's waning faith in their institutions is a cause for concern and warrants closer scrutiny.

Congress dysfunction and gridlock

In the United States, gridlock typically occurs when politicians cannot agree on the provisions of a bill. The two-party system prevalent in the country encourages disagreement and legislative stalling, as each party attempts to impose its agenda on the other during the legislative process. Both the House and the Senate rarely have an even split between parties, and each entity requires a majority to pass legislation. However, due to the stances each party takes on the issues being addressed, no agreements can be reached because no one wants to concede or compromise. This results in a backup of bills waiting to be addressed or voted on.

The primary cause of gridlock is the filibuster, where a senator or group of senators use the concept of unlimited debate to stall the vote on a bill. Rule 22 allows the Senate to invoke cloture—the only means to end a filibuster—which calls for a supermajority of 60 senators. The Senate majority leader can also contribute to gridlock by refusing to bring bills before the Senate, as former Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did during his tenure.

In addition to political party agendas, the tools and rules available to individual politicians can also contribute to gridlock. For example, the president has the power of veto, which can prevent legislation from being enacted. While Congress can override the veto, it requires a majority of two-thirds of both the House and the Senate. Another tactic is the pocket veto, where the president doesn't sign a bill within 10 days and Congress adjourns during that period. This type of veto cannot be overridden by Congress.

While gridlock is often seen as a negative aspect of American politics, some argue that it is simply a constant of the country's political life. Legislative inaction may be viewed as policy stability, and views on gridlock tend to vary depending on one's political stance. As former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole noted, "If you're against something, you'd better hope there's a little gridlock."

Poor leadership

The decline in trust in leadership is not a new phenomenon. Since the 1960s and 1970s, there has been a widespread decrease in trust in government across advanced industrial democracies, including the United States. This erosion of trust extends beyond politics, impacting various institutions such as the media, science, and religion.

Several factors contribute to the perception of poor leadership in the United States. One notable example is the government's response to significant events and issues. For instance, the impact of the Watergate scandal on public trust in government was profound. Additionally, leadership during tumultuous times, such as the expansion of the Vietnam War, the Watts riots, civil rights movements, and assassinations, likely played a role in shaping public opinion.

The complexity of leadership and its impact on public trust is further highlighted by the different perspectives among Americans. For instance, the Gallup poll in March 2023 showed that more white people and Republicans were likely to view the government as the biggest problem compared to people of color and Democrats. This disparity in views underscores the multifaceted nature of leadership and its perception by diverse segments of society.

To address the concerns about poor leadership, it is essential to recognize that the decline in trust is not solely attributed to recent events or the actions of a single individual. Instead, it is a broader societal shift influenced by factors such as globalization, urbanization, and changing social values. As societies evolve and individuals prioritize self-expression and independence, the traditional authority of institutions and leaders is challenged.

In conclusion, poor leadership is a pressing issue for Americans, and restoring trust in leadership is a complex task. It requires understanding the underlying causes of the decline in trust, which are often multifaceted and deeply rooted in societal changes. By recognizing the complexity of leadership and its impact on public trust, leaders can work towards rebuilding faith in government and other institutions.

Rising public ignorance of how government works

Public ignorance about politics and government is a persistent and ubiquitous problem in modern democracies. Despite rising education levels and increased access to information, political knowledge remains disturbingly low. This issue is not due to a lack of intelligence or available information but rather the rational behavior of individuals who do not find it worthwhile to invest time and effort in understanding politics. This widespread ignorance has significant implications for democracy and governance.

Extent of Public Ignorance

Political ignorance in America is deep and pervasive, with many citizens lacking even basic knowledge about the structure and functions of their government. For instance, a 2006 survey found that only 42% of Americans could name the three branches of the federal government: the executive, legislative, and judicial. Similarly, during the government shutdown fight over Obamacare, 44% of the public were unaware that it was still the law, and 80% had heard "nothing at all" or "only a little" about the controversial insurance exchanges. This ignorance extends beyond specific policies to fundamental aspects of governance, such as how federal spending is distributed, with most people greatly underestimating spending on entitlement programs while overestimating foreign aid.

Causes of Public Ignorance

The primary cause of political ignorance is the rational behavior of individuals. Most people find that the effort required to acquire political knowledge outweighs the potential benefits. The likelihood of a single vote influencing an election outcome is minuscule, and individuals often have more pressing concerns in their daily lives. As a result, they devote little time to learning about politics and instead focus on other interests or responsibilities. Additionally, those who do follow politics often do so with a biased approach, seeking out information that confirms their pre-existing views and ignoring or undervaluing contradictory evidence.

Consequences of Public Ignorance

Public ignorance has far-reaching consequences for democracy and governance. It becomes challenging to hold political leaders accountable for their performance when citizens lack the necessary knowledge to evaluate their actions effectively. This ignorance can also lead to the passage of irrational or counterproductive policies that may have detrimental effects on society. For example, the public often endorses policies such as minimum wage increases or rent control without understanding the potential negative consequences, such as increased unemployment or housing scarcity.

Addressing Public Ignorance

Addressing public ignorance is a complex task. Increasing knowledge through education has been proposed as a solution, but political knowledge levels have remained stagnant despite rising education levels. Political leaders often prioritize indoctrination over knowledge in public education, and even with improved education, it is challenging for individuals to comprehend the vast and complex activities of modern governments fully.

Public ignorance about politics and government is a significant challenge in modern democracies. It undermines the democratic ideal of rule by the people and can lead to uninformed decision-making and irrational policies. While increasing knowledge through education is a potential solution, it has proven ineffective thus far. Addressing public ignorance requires a multifaceted approach that considers the rational behavior of individuals and the complexities of modern governance.

Deepening partisanship

The partisan divide in the United States has been deepening over the past few decades, with a 2020 YouGov survey finding that over two-thirds of Americans believe politics has become more partisan in their lifetime. The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) found that the chasm of negative sentiment between Democrats and Republicans has nearly doubled over the past four decades, with the average gap of negative sentiment between the two parties increasing from 27 points in 1978 to 46 points in 2016.

The media and news industry has been blamed for the deepening gulf between the two sides of the aisle, with some arguing that the media has taken sides and failed to report accurately, fairly, or in an unbiased way. Social media has also been identified as a contributing factor, with the constant presence of differing political views in people's lives fostering an increasingly partisan environment.

The increasing partisanship in American politics has been attributed to the actions of both the Democratic and Republican parties, with some arguing that the parties work against each other instead of finding common ground and working for the betterment of the country. The selection of candidates and appointees has also been criticised, with respondents noting that candidates are now chosen based on how extreme their partisan views are, rather than their ability to appeal to a wide range of legislators.

The partisan divide is also reflected in the public's attitudes towards various institutions. For example, Democrats are much more positive than Republicans about the presidency, with a 39-point difference in confidence ratings between the two parties. Similarly, Republicans express significantly more confidence than Democrats in the Supreme Court, the police, and the church or organised religion.

The widening political divide in the United States stands out when compared to other established democracies. A study by Stanford economists found that while political polarisation in the US has nearly doubled over the past four decades, it has decreased in countries such as Australia, Britain, Norway, Sweden, and Germany.

Media bias

Americans' trust in the media is at a record low, with only 31% expressing a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence in the media to report the news "fully, accurately and fairly". This is a significant decline from the 1970s, when trust in the media ranged from 68% to 72%.

A Gallup/Knight study found that Americans' hope for an objective media is all but lost, with an increasing partisan slant in the news and a media that is eager to push an agenda. This perception of bias erodes the media's ability to hold leaders accountable and deliver on its promise to democracy.

• Americans see increasing bias in the news media, with 68% saying they see too much bias in the reporting of news that is supposed to be objective. They also see it in their own news sources (57%) and are concerned about bias in the news consumed by others.
• Americans think the media is pushing an agenda. When they suspect an inaccuracy in a story, many believe it was intentional, with 52% suspecting the reporter was misrepresenting the facts and 28% thinking they were making them up.
• Distrust in the media varies by political affiliation, with 67% of Republicans having an unfavourable opinion of the news media compared to 20% of Democrats and 48% of independents.
• A majority of Americans say the media is under political attack, but they are divided on whether it is justified, with 66% of Democrats saying the attacks are not justified and 58% of Republicans saying they are.
• Younger Americans tend to have more negative views of the media, with only 20% of those under 30 having a favourable opinion compared to 43% of those aged 65 and older.
• Americans want more diversity in newsrooms, but their priorities differ. Democrats and Blacks prioritize racial/ethnic diversity, while Republicans and Whites prioritize ideological diversity in journalists' political views.
• Americans feel overwhelmed by the volume and speed of news, especially with the mix of news and non-news on the web, including social media.
• Local news is important for civic engagement, with people who consume local news being more likely to participate in community issues and local elections.
• Despite the low trust in the media, Americans still consider it vital for democracy, with 81% saying it is "critical" or "very important".

The decline in trust in the media is part of a broader trend of decreasing faith in American institutions, including the presidency, Congress, the Supreme Court, and the criminal justice system. This loss of faith in institutions is not unique to the United States and has been observed in other advanced industrial democracies as well.

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