By Haddon Libby
The Pew Research Center has studied public trust in government going back to 1958. Back then, 73% of Americans trusted their elected leaders. Trust in government peaked in 1964 at the beginning of the Johnson administration (right after the JFK assassination) and began a slide until it hit a bottom at 10% in October, 2011. As the economy has improved, trust has risen to 19% meaning that ‘only’ eight in ten people do not trust those representing them.
Split by party, 33% of Americans trust the Democratic Party versus 19% for the GOP. Satisfaction with the direction of the country is also near an all-time low at 24%
Steadfast conservatives are the least trusting in what is going on in DC with only 7% comfortable with the actions in Washington DC with 43% describing themselves as angry. Young Democrats have the most trust at 40% and the least anger at 5%.
When it comes to governments’ role in business regulation, 85% of self-described conservatives feel regulation does more harm than good while 87% of liberals feel it is necessary to protect the public.
Consensus between the left and right can be found in the belief that power in the United States is held by only a few business people. Despite this consensus, only 48% of conservatives feel that the economic system unfairly favors the powerful versus 88% for liberals.
When we look at the major parties, the establishment candidates are struggling. Bernie Sanders, a self-described socialist, is giving Hilary Clinton fits. The GOP have a reality show underway with Trump leading in all major polls followed by Dr. Ben Carlson, retired Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Ted Cruz of Texas. With the full backing of the GOP, Jeb Bush is gaining little traction while Scott Walker is being ignored despite the unlimited bank roll of king-makers, the Koch Brothers.
If your opinion mirrors that of the majority of Americans and believe that the two major parties are bought and paid for, could it be time to think about voting for a third party candidate?
With over 900 people in the running, there must be one candidate who matches your views. To use an analogy, if you don’t want Coke or Pepsi and would prefer water to quench your thirst, why choose soda? Alternative candidates represent water to those unhappy with the two soda system.
Bernie Sanders ‘socialist’ views include eliminating unlimited campaign contributions given by corporations and nonprofit political action groups, two years free education at state colleges, dividing up the big banks so that they are not too big to fail, providing free basic healthcare to all Americans as well as a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
Left of Sanders is the Green Party which believes in global sustainability and a respect for diversity that is administered through a decentralized, community-based government where decisions are based on the beliefs of citizen’s a/k/a true democracy with twelve people running for their nomination.
Left of the Green Party is the Peace & Freedom Party which advocates socialism, democracy, ecology, equality and healthcare for all. Four people are competing for their nod.
If you are on the conservative side, the Libertarian Party may be for you. They believe in more personal independence and a greatly reduced government structure. Libertarians want to abolish social security, Medicare and the minimum wage. Twenty-four people running for their nomination.
If that isn’t far enough right for you, California’s Daniel Jones represents the American Independent Party, a far right group that bases its doctrine on the Bible and freedom from ‘Liberal beliefs’ while Bob Whitaker of the American Freedom Party has a platform that wants to reestablish the ‘customs and heritage’ of White Americans.
A full list of all candidates can be found at www.politics1.com.
