Why the American People Have No Faith in Their Government

by Gerard Emershaw

According to a poll by Public Policy Polling, there is some good news and some bad news for Congress. The good news is that Congress is more popular with the American people than Vladimir Putin, Miley Cyrus, heroin, Syria, twerking, and Anthony Weiner. The bad news is that Congress is less popular with the American people than Wall Street, witches, hemorrhoids, jury duty, dog poop, nail fungus, cockroaches, and zombies. Overall, the poll found that Congress has an 8% approval rating.

The news is not that much better for President Obama. According to Gallup, President Obama’s approval rating has fallen to 43% with 50% disapproval.

The American people are fed up with the entire federal government. An October 10 Gallup survey found that approval of the government has fallen to a record low of 18%.  

Why is the American public so disgusted with its leadership? The pointless and cynical gamesmanship which led to the federal government shutdown did not sit well with the people. According to an Associated Press-GfK survey, 68% believe that the government shutdown is a major problem for the country. However, this was just the latest symptom of the disease which the federal government has become.

Congress has surrendered most of its constitutional duties. For the most part, it no longer writes legislation. Most laws are written as regulations by executive branch agencies. When Congress actually does legislate, it is likely that the bills were written by special interest lobbyists. Congress no longer carries out its crucial foreign policy function by deciding whether or not to declare war on foreign nations. Instead, the members of Congress allow the President to unconstitutionally do whatever he will with the military. While Congress continues to bicker like petty children over things like the debt ceiling and the budget—which it never actually seems to get around to passing, the American economy continues to fester. While the voters would love to kick the bums out, members of Congress are much like the cockroaches which have a higher approval rating than the Congress. Incumbents tend to survive. Incumbents in the Congress were re-elected at a rate of 90% in 2012. Not only do members of Congress not do their jobs, but they also live like parasitic royalty at the taxpayers’ expense.

Meanwhile, President Obama, who promised “hope and change,” has brought nothing but despair and more of the same. His economic policies have been a disaster. According to John Williams’ Shadow Government Statistics alternate unemployment chart—which includes both long-term and short-term discouraged workers and full-time workers who were forced to part-time—the unemployment rate has risen sharply under President Obama.

President Obama’s reign has not exactly been a boon for the unemployed. Median household income has fallen for five years in a row. While the American people are suffering economically, President Obama has kicked them while they are down by unleashing a growing NSA spy program against the people. In addition, as the fortunes of the republic fall, his powers increase. While presiding over a failing nation, President Obama has unconstitutionally waged war against Libya and came perilously close to doing the same in Syria while continuing his bloody drone campaign in the Middle East and North Africa.

Americans are unhappy with their government, but even in elections in the near future, it will be difficult to throw the bums out. And if the bums are thrown out, they will likely just be replaced with different bums.