Pew Research Center released the following findings this past week. I wish we could say we were surprised\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Americans have long been critical of politicians and skeptical of the federal government. But today, Americans\u2019 views of politics and elected officials are unrelentingly negative, with little hope of improvement on the horizon.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Majorities say the political process is dominated by special interests, flooded with campaign cash and mired in partisan warfare. Elected officials are widely viewed as self-serving and ineffective.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A comprehensive new Pew Research Center study of the state of the nation\u2019s politics finds no single focal point for the public\u2019s dissatisfaction. There is widespread criticism of the three branches of government, both political parties, as well as political leaders and candidates for office. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Notably, Americans\u2019 unhappiness with politics comes at a time of historically high levels of voter turnout in national elections. The elections of 2018, 2020 and 2022 were three of the highest-turnout U.S. elections of their respective types in decades.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But voting in elections is very different from being satisfied with the state of politics \u2013 and the public is deeply dissatisfied.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For example\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just 4% of U.S. adults say the political system is working extremely or very well; another 23% say it is working somewhat well. About six-in-ten (63%) express not too much or no confidence at all in the future of the U.S. political system\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A growing share of the public dislikes <\/em>both<\/em><\/strong> political parties. Nearly three-in-ten (28%) express unfavorable views of both parties, the highest share in three decades of polling. And a comparable share of adults (25%) do not feel well-represented by <\/em>either<\/em><\/strong> party.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s more\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n The survey also provides people several opportunities to describe in their own words their feelings about the political system and elected officials. When asked to sum up their feelings about politics in a word or phrase, very few (2%) use positive terms; 79% use negative or critical words, with \u201cdivisive\u201d and \u201ccorrupt\u201d coming up most frequently.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The stated strengths are interesting\u2026 that is, if <\/em>they could state them\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also asked people to identify the <\/em>strengths<\/em><\/strong> of the political system, as well as its weaknesses. Among the positive responses, roughly one-in-ten point to the structures of U.S. government, including its system of checks and balances (12%), freedoms and democratic values (9%) and the opportunity to vote in elections (8%).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet it is telling that a majority of Americans are unable or unwilling to identify strong points of the nation\u2019s political system. While about a third gave no answer, another 22% write \u201cnothing\u201d \u2013 meaning that in their view, the political system does not have any strengths.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So truth be told, we\u2019re pretty unified\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n These views and other negative sentiments are widely shared among older and younger Americans, White, Black, Hispanic and Asian adults, people who are highly engaged in politics and those who are less engaged. And in most cases, the partisan differences in these attitudes are relatively modest.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let me say that again for emphasis: \u201cthe partisan differences in these attitudes are relatively modest.\u201d We continue\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an era defined by partisan polarization, the parties share little common ground politically. But they do share a deep unhappiness with the current state of politics.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We hear the unhappiness. We hear many, too, suggest that \u201cdemocracy is on the ballot\u201d or we need to \u201csave democracy,\u201d but yet, that\u2019s typically a single party person suggesting their party is the only one that can do the saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My strong sense is that\u2019s a fairly pompous, convenient perch. It also is entirely unaware of how the public increasingly feels about both<\/em> parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dare we say it\u2026 to the elect and more: Learn to work together. Learn to love all people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Pew Research Center released the following findings this past week. I wish we could say we were surprised\u2026 Americans have long been critical of politicians and skeptical of the federal government. But today, Americans\u2019 views of politics and elected officials are unrelentingly negative, with little hope of improvement on the horizon. Majorities say the political … <\/p>\n