Americans' Faith In Government: A Lost Cause?

Americans' faith 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 stark contrast to the 1960s, when public trust in the government was at its peak at about 77%. While the government's performance has generally been effective, with the US scoring highly on the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators, Americans cite government and poor leadership as the nation's top problem. This decline in trust can be attributed to various factors, including the rapidly expanding role of the federal government, rising public ignorance of its functions, and deepening partisanship. The recent release of the Twitter Files and the events of January 6, 2021, have also amplified dissatisfaction and mistrust among Americans.

Americans' trust in the federal government has been low for decades

There are several reasons for the persistent decline in public trust. Firstly, the federal government's rapidly expanding role has led to a perception that it has become too powerful and tries to do too much. Additionally, there is a rising public ignorance of how the government functions, with 50% of Americans unable to name its three branches. The increase in partisan media has also contributed to the decline, as it has drowned out intelligent debate and discussion of common ground.

The loss of trust in the government is not limited to the federal level, as Americans have also expressed widespread mistrust in other institutions such as the courts, Congress, the Supreme Court, the presidency, the criminal justice system, the media, and organized religion. This pessimism about the country's core institutions is fuelled by various factors, including the Republican dysfunction in Congress, the budget crisis, and the impact of the pandemic.

Despite the declining trust, it is important to note that Americans' faith in state and local governments remains high. Additionally, the US government has consistently performed well across various measures, including effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and control of corruption.

Mistrust increased at the start of the pandemic

Mistrust in the American government has been declining for decades, with only 20% of adults saying they trust Washington to do the right thing. However, this decline in trust became more prominent at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The US government's response to the pandemic was heavily criticised. A report from the US House Energy and Commerce Committee detailed how the government's COVID-19 public health campaign, delivered by the Fors Marsh Group for the US Department of Health and Human Services, contributed to the development of widespread citizen resistance to COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The campaign was associated with a deterioration in confidence in the CDC, the public health enterprise, and vaccines. It specifically targeted parents, with ads that inaccurately suggested that children were at high risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19. These ads were emotionally manipulative and sought to incite fear by exaggerating the risk of severe illness and death among low-risk populations.

The Biden-Harris administration's pledge to impose COVID-19 vaccine mandates was also met with resistance. In April 2022, nearly half of all surveyed adults agreed that vaccination and masking decisions are personal choices and should not be mandated. This resistance was despite the vast majority of unvaccinated individuals being under 50 and at low risk of severe illness or death.

The CDC's admission to overcounting deaths further undermined the campaign's promotional materials, which had pressured parents into believing their children were facing life-or-death scenarios. A survey from March 2022 showed that between 60 and 76% of parents with unvaccinated children were concerned about potential vaccine side effects. Mistrust in the government's motives in widely encouraging vaccines was also a concern.

The pandemic response also highlighted existing issues with the American healthcare system, particularly regarding racial inequalities. Mistrust in the government's response to COVID-19 was particularly prominent among Black Americans, with 34% of Black individuals believing that COVID-19 was created in a laboratory, compared to 26% of White individuals. Medical mistrust, defined as "distrust of healthcare providers, the healthcare system, medical treatments, and the government as a steward of public health", is prevalent among Black Americans and may have played a role in COVID-19 inequities. Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with, hospitalised from, and die from COVID-19. This is believed to stem from systemic racism, which has led to higher levels of social risk factors and a greater prevalence of underlying health conditions.

The criminal justice system is applied unfairly

Americans' trust in their government has been declining for decades, and criminal justice is one of the key areas where this is evident. In fact, the criminal justice system is one of the worst-rated institutions in the US, with only Congress rated lower.

A 2023 Gallup poll found that just 17% of Americans expressed a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in the criminal justice system, indicating a widespread perception that it is applied unfairly. This is a significant shift from 2003 when 66% believed the system was fair. The same poll found that Americans are divided on the fairness of the system, with 49% saying that people accused of crimes are treated fairly, and 49% saying they are treated unfairly.

The perception of unfairness in the criminal justice system is influenced by political affiliation and race. A majority of Republicans (55%) and White adults (53%) believe that criminal suspects are treated fairly, while majorities of Democrats (55%) and people of color (56%) think they are treated unfairly. These disparities in perception contribute to the overall sense of mistrust and dissatisfaction with the system.

The call for a tougher approach to crime also varies along political and racial lines. A 2023 Gallup survey found that 58% of Americans believe the criminal justice system is not tough enough, a sharp increase from the 41% who held this view in 2020. However, there are notable differences between Republicans and Democrats, as well as between White adults and people of color. Three-quarters of Republicans think the system is too lenient, while only 42% of Democrats hold this view. Similarly, 63% of White adults want a tougher system, compared to 49% of people of color.

The dissatisfaction with the criminal justice system is not merely a matter of political disagreement but also a reflection of deeper concerns about the effectiveness and fairness of the system. Many Americans believe that the system focuses too much on punishment rather than addressing the root causes of crime. They advocate for prevention, rehabilitation, and alternative sentencing approaches, especially for non-violent offenders. This shift in public opinion is significant, and it has the potential to shape legislative decisions and bring about meaningful change in the criminal justice system.

Partisanship has seeped into people's personal lives

Partisanship in Personal Life

Friendships and Social Circles

Americans are more likely to have friends from their own political party, and those with cross-party friendships tend to have less negative views of the opposing party. According to a Pew Research Center survey, Republicans with Democratic friends are less likely to hold negative stereotypes of Democrats, and vice versa. This indicates that interacting with those from different political backgrounds can reduce partisanship and promote understanding.

Conversations and Interactions

Political conversations between people with differing views are often seen as "stressful and frustrating" rather than "interesting and informative". Partisanship can make it challenging for individuals with opposing views to find common ground, even on non-political topics. This suggests that political differences can hinder meaningful discussions and connections between people.

Living Preferences and Communities

People's political ideologies influence their living preferences and choices of communities. Conservatives and liberals differ significantly in their ideal communities, with conservatives preferring larger houses that are farther apart, while liberals opt for smaller houses that are closer together. Additionally, conservatives value living near people who share their religious faith, whereas liberals prioritize racial and ethnic diversity in their communities.

Family Dynamics

While rare, some individuals express disappointment at the prospect of a family member marrying someone from the opposing political party. This shows that partisanship can even influence personal relationships and family dynamics, highlighting how deeply ingrained political ideologies have become in people's lives.

Media Consumption

The explosion of partisan media has contributed to the polarization of Americans' personal lives. People are exposed to partisan news and information in their living rooms and kitchens, drowning out intelligent debate and common ground. This proliferation of partisan media influences individuals' perceptions and reinforces their political biases, further dividing people along ideological lines.

Americans are ignorant of how their government functions

Americans' trust in their government has been declining for decades, with only 20% of adults saying they trust Washington to do the right thing most of the time. This is despite the U.S. government's strong performance across the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators, which include effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, control of corruption, and political stability.

One of the reasons for this decline in public trust is Americans' growing ignorance of how their government functions. A shocking 50% of Americans cannot name its three branches, let alone understand their interactions. This lack of understanding of the government's inner workings contributes to the overall decline in faith in government institutions.

The expansion of the federal government's role has also contributed to the erosion of trust. Many Americans now believe their government has become too powerful and overreaching. Additionally, the increasing partisanship in the country, fueled by partisan media, has drowned out intelligent debate and bipartisan compromise.

The loss of faith in government extends beyond the executive and legislative branches, with Americans expressing mistrust in various institutions such as the courts, Congress, the Supreme Court, and even local law enforcement. This pessimism about the country's core institutions is fueled by political dysfunction, scandals, and a perception of unfairness in the application of the law.

While Americans' trust in their government is low, it is important to note that their faith in state and local governments remains higher. Additionally, certain institutions, such as the military and small businesses, still enjoy relatively high levels of public trust.

Frequently asked questions