Washington has long had the reputation for being more disconnected from its average constituent than state and local governments, and as recent data show, Americans are starting to believe that.
Following a decade-long trend, Americans in 2013 have only slightly more trust for Congress than the 2011 record low. According to a recent Gallup poll, public trust for state and local governments is down this year as well, but only slightly.
“I think you find that people are frustrated with (the) federal government’s inaction,” Athens County Commissioner Lenny Eliason said. “We’re out in the community every day. You don’t see that at the state or federal level.”
A Sept. 30 Pew Research Center survey shows that Eliason is not in the minority. The survey reveals that 77 percent of people are either “angry” or “frustrated” with the federal government, a record high since Pew began asking the question in 1997.
“Unfortunately, it is more difficult now than it ever has to be involved in public life,” said Ohio Senator Lou Gentile, D-Steubenville. “A lot of what has taken place in Washington has done a lot to discourage people about our system.”
However, Gentile added he still believes the American political system ranks among the best in the world.
Gallup’s statistics follow with an overall drop in the public’s trust for elected officials, especially Congress, which has been falling consistently for the last decade.
“Leadership at the top of our parties get locked into positions because of a few members of each party,” U.S. Representative Steve Stivers, R-Columbus said. “Rank-in file members have more ability to have conversations and find common ground.”
Stivers acknowledged blame on both parties in Congress, and that his party should have come to the table earlier with more passable offers.
“I hate the government shutdown,” Stivers said. “We need to end the bickering and start working together and getting things done.”
Neither party is polling very well right now, but the Republican Party has reached a historic low in the polls, with only 28 percent of respondents saying they have a favorable view of the GOP, according to data from a Gallup poll. In comparison, the data say Democrats are down to 43 percent.
Despite the overall drop in government trust, state and local governments are still polling favorably, which Athens City Council President Jim Sands said is because local officials are better connected to their constituents.
“Obviously, local officials are not only local officials, but we’re local citizens,” Sands said. “When we make a decision about a roadway … we’re affected by it also.”
And while Athens politics are in no way free of political party bias, Eliason said party loyalty does not affect voting decisions as they do in state and federal governments.
“At the local level, you come to do your job,” Eliason said. “You don’t make your decision based on a party or caucus.”
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@LucasDaprile
Man on the Street
Asked: Do you trust the federal government?
Harrison Mbemba, freshman studying music production:
“Not right now. I don’t trust them to make decisions at all.”
Alicia Hamon, junior studying graphic design and communication studies:
“I definitely think they put thought into what Americans think. I think they try to make the best decisions they can with what they’re given.”
Nathan Kelly, fifth-year studying political science:
“To trust the government is to trust they will use their monopoly on violence to do the right thing, which is a dangerous precedent. ... The government does not have our best interests in mind.”
Jasmine-Renee Riley, junior studying political science:
“Yes (I trust government). It’s happened before and it can be fixed again.”
