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FirmhandKY -> Of the People, By the People, For the People ...? (9/27/2011 6:08:46 AM)
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One of the biggest (if not the biggest) aspects of a successful civil society and nation is the legitimacy of the government to govern.
Lack of legitimacy generally indicates a government in trouble and subject to increasing levels of attack (either political or physical) and unrest by the population. In the end, this often leads to either growing repression or a major loss of power of the government (overthrow is not uncommon).
One of the foundational differences for the US Government was the basis for that legitimacy. That it should be primarily based on the will of the "People", and not due to the "divine right of kings", the "law of the jungle - might makes right", or due to the birth, wealth and education of an oligarchic group.
Over the last few decades, this "will of the People" legitimacy in the US seems to be dissolving, however.
Two recent polls suggest how bad this is getting. One of the polls is a Rasmussen poll. The second is a Gallup poll.
Extract from the Rasmussen poll:
Fewer voters than ever feel the federal government has the consent of the governed.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 17% of Likely U.S. Voters think the federal government today has the consent of the governed. Sixty-nine percent (69%) believe the government does not have that consent. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided.
The number of voters who feel the government has the consent of the governed - a foundational principle, contained in the Declaration of Independence - is down from 23% in early May and has fallen to its lowest level measured yet.
Extract from the Gallup poll:
* 82% of Americans disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job.
* 69% say they have little or no confidence in the legislative branch of government, an all-time high and up from 63% in 2010.
* 57% have little or no confidence in the federal government to solve domestic problems, exceeding the previous high of 53% recorded in 2010 and well exceeding the 43% who have little or no confidence in the government to solve international problems.
* 53% have little or no confidence in the men and women who seek or hold elected office.
* Americans believe, on average, that the federal government wastes 51 cents of every tax dollar, similar to a year ago, but up significantly from 46 cents a decade ago and from an average 43 cents three decades ago.
* 49% of Americans believe the federal government has become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens. In 2003, less than a third (30%) believed this
You can read the individual polls at the links, and even find the questions for each survey.
Why do we have this growing lack of legitimacy in the US? Is it situational, where the more left of center people were disappointed with 8 years of Bush-Republican governance, and the right of center are disappointed with the three years of Obama-Democratic governance? In other words, strictly situational?
Or is it something deeper, structural with the current US government?
Firm
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