April 20, 2010

Distrust, discontent, anger (or, the American people and their Government)

According to a new series of Pew Research Center surveys, nearly 80 percent of Americans are more sceptical of Washington than ever, and a desire for smaller government is especially evident since Barack Obama took office. Public confidence in the federal government is at one of the lowest points in a half-century. There is a perfect storm of conditions associated with distrust of government—a dismal economy, an unhappy public, and epic discontent with Congress and elected officials. This anti-government feeling has driven the tea party movement, which has a small but fervent antigovernment constituency and could be a wild card in this November’s election. Please note that many Republicans (28%), and Independents who lean Republican (30%), say the tea party movement represents their point of view better than the GOP. (See also here and here)

3 comments:

  1. I would say that we in the Conservative movement, expressed primarily by the Tea Party Movement, are not so much anti-government, as we are 'constitutionalists'. It limits gov't to specific things it's allowed to do. We recognize the importance of honest gov't applied correctly and legally. The current regime rejects the Constitution.

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  2. There's an interesting article today in the Figaro on the present social climate in the USA. For those who can read French :

    http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2010/04/19/01003-20100419ARTFIG00729-l-amerique-fracturee-de-barack-obama-.php

    And for those who are willing to brave an Italian translation attempt with possible nuances of Anglo-French dialect :

    http://oknotizie.virgilio.it/info/704548f12acaa667/l_america_di_barack_obama_fratturata_le_figaro_.html

    It's reported that Obama actually receives an average of thirty death threats a day..
    In their case it has to be: 'No they can't'.

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  3. Funny, that when it's the left wingnuts protesting and calling names, we hear things like "dissent is the purest form of patriotism". But when it's against a left wing government, it's sedition. People don't trust the government because they know they can't trust Obama, Emmanuel, Pelosi or Reid. It's as simple as that.

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