Americans’ view of politics is getting worse and worse. This was reflected in a report prepared by the Pew Research Center based on a survey, which revealed that a very high percentage of Americans feel overwhelmed or angry when they have to think about politics. Specifically, 65% are overwhelmed and 55% are angry, while only 4% are enthusiastic and 10% still have some hope. Turbulences like those recently experienced in the House of Representatives do not help to distance this image from the country’s politicians.
The reason why politics generates anxiety and anger among citizens is because they think feel it only serves specific interests such as money, power and ideological wars between the leaders and members of each of the political parties. In the survey, 79% of respondents use words like “corrupt” or “divisive” to define current politics.
On the other hand, 63% of those surveyed have no or very little confidence in the political system. Only 4% of Americans believe it works extremely well, while 23% say it works somewhat well.
Only one in every four Democratic voters trusts the federal government
Trust in the federal government is at its most critical level in the last 70 years. Right now, only 16% trust politicians in Washington. In 1964, this figure was at an all-time high of 77%.
It should be noted that only 25% of Democratic voters trust the federal government, which is currently led by their own party.
Opinions on each party
Both parties have failed to earn Americans' trust. The Democratic Party is viewed favorably by 37% of Americans, while the Republican Party comes in at 36%.
Around three in 10 respondents (28%) have a favorable opinion of neither party. This is the worst assessment in the last three decades, according to Pew's records. Related to this scale, 37% wish that "there were more parties to choose from."
Politicians put party conflicts before the nation's problems
One of the serious problems that Americans identify with current politics is the partisan polarization. Eighty-six percent say that "Republicans and Democrats are more focused on fighting each other than on solving problems."
More than half of those surveyed (57%) indicate that these partisan conflicts receive too much attention. On the other hand, 78% believe that little attention is paid to what should really matter: the problems facing the United States.
Megadonors and lobbies have too much influence
Money is one of the interests driven by current politics, as detailed by Americans in the Pew Research Center study. This is where megadonors and lobbyists come in; two entities that respondents believe have too much influence on politicians and legislative independence.
Seventy-three percent say out that lobbyists have too much influence on the decisions in Congress. Eighty percent feel the same about large donors. On the other side of the scale, seven out of 10 (70%) consider that electoral districts have little relevance to legislative initiatives.
Majority support for limiting the age of elected officials
The 118th Congress is one of the oldest in history, with the Senate's average age of 65 being the highest on record. Almost eight in 10 Americans (79%) are committed to limiting the maximum age of federally elected officials.
Respondents believe the same for the Supreme Court, where 74% of those surveyed believe there should be an age limit for judges.
