Americans' lack of trust in the federal government has declined dramatically in recent decades. Except for a short rally after the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001, few Americans admit to trusting those in Washington to do what's right most of the time. But this week's Economist/YouGov indicates there is also little trust in a government closer to home - that of their state. Just 13% of Americans trust the government in Washington to do what's right most of the time, and only 14% say that about their state's government. About a third trusts each level of government "almost never", with more saying that about the federal government than about their state.
And not only is there little trust, there is also little belief that either level of government represents their interests. 9% say they trust the federal government to do this most of the time; 12% say this about their state's government. 44% say they are represented "almost never" in D.C.; fewer (35%) are that negative about their representation at the state level.
Opinions about the national government are tied to which party is in control of the Executive Branch: Democrats, while mostly distrustful, are nearly three times as likely as Republicans to say they trust the federal government most of the time and to say it (mostly) represents them. Independents are nearly as distrustful as Republicans. But there is less party difference when it comes to opinions about the state government.The problem may be that Americans doubt that public officials care what they think. 70% say that public officials care "not very much" or "not at all" what people think.
