US People Losing Trust In Government

48% See Government Today As A Threat to Individual RightsPublished on 06-25-2010
Source: Rasmussen

Nearly half of American Adults see the government today as a threat to individual rights rather than a protector of those rights.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Adults see the government today as a threat to rights. Thirty-seven percent (37%) hold the opposite view. Fifteen percent (15%) are undecided.
Most Republicans (74%) and unaffiliateds (51%) consider the government to be a threat to individual rights. Most Democrats (64%) regard the government as a protector of rights.
Additionally, most Americans (52%) say it is more important for the government to protect individual rights than to promote economic growth. Just 31% say promoting economic growth is more important. But again a sizable number (17%) of Adults aren't sure which is more important.
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This nationwide survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 18-19, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
Men strongly believe it is more important for the government to protect individual rights, while women are almost evenly divided on the question.
Fifty-five percent (55%) of whites feel the emphasis should be on protecting individual rights. African-Americans are closely divided over which is more important.
There is little partisan disagreement when it comes to individual rights versus economic growth.
Data released earlier this week shows that 62% believe politicians want the government to have more power and money. At the same time, 58% think most voters want less power and money for the government.
This gap helps explain why just 21% believe that government today has the consent of the governed.
The Declaration of Independence asserts that governments are instituted among men to protect certain inalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I agree that the government is not our friend at this point in time. But, I'm not a republican and democrats are being fooled. I too am and independent thinker, and march to my own drum. :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by gypski

I agree that the government is not our friend at this point in time. But, I'm not a republican and democrats are being fooled. I too am and independent thinker, and march to my own drum. :thumbsup:

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There it is.......a COMMON ground we can agree on....somewhere to start.

In all seriousness, what to do you mean the Dems are being fooled?

I'll say this, anyone who votes along party lines is a mindless fool. It is up to the voter to educate themselves before they vote.

Losing trust, haha, ever since I was a kid there really never has been any trust. The original government back in 1776 was good, but as we all know over time those in power want more power. Making the majority of us slaves with minimum wages.

Capitali$m fails.

Hehe Im almost 35 years old and dont recall any trust in our crappy gov't system. The man(gov't) is always trying to bring its people down,and they wonder why there so many issues in the world.:jointsmile: