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Americans Lose Trust and Confidence in All Government But Local Government Remains Most Trusted Washington, DC —The U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) released recently the results of its 1992 national poll on public attitudes toward governments and taxes. This year, as in years past, the Commission asked citizens for their views about how much trust and confidence they have in the federal, state, and local governments. Although the public's trust and confidence in all governments has slumped since 1987, trust and confidence in the federal government has tumbled the most. This year, those who say that they have "a great deal" of trust and confidence in the federal government are 4 percent compared to 9 percent in 1987. Those who express "a fair amount" of trust and confidence in the federal government are now 38 percent compared to 59 percent in 1987. The response "not very much" has increased to 41 percent this year, from 24 percent in 1987, while the answer "none at all" tripled from 4 to 12 percent. This year, respondents having "a great deal" of trust and confidence in state government fell as well. Only 5 percent say that they have "a great deal" of trust and confidence in state government, while 46 percent say "a fair amount." In 1987, more than twice the proportion of respondents (11 percent) said "a great deal" and 62 percent, a full 16 percentage points more than this year said "a fair amount." The response "not very much" increased from 19 percent in 1987 to 36 percent this year, and "none at all" doubled to 8 percent. Overall, local government enjoys the most trust and confidence, although it, too, has felt the sting of public dissatisfaction. Only 6 percent of the public expresses "a great deal" of trust and confidence in local government, 10 percentage points less than in 1987. Still, 54 percent of the respondents have "a fair amount" of trust and confidence in local government, down from 57 percent in 1987. The proportion of people expressing "not very much" trust and confidence in local government increased from 16 percent in 1987 to 26 percent in 1992, while "none at all" experienced a marginal increase of 2 percentage points compared to 1987. Compared to 1987, whites now have less trust and confidence in the federal government. This year, 4 percent of whites express "a great deal" and 38 percent indicate "a fair amount" of trust and confidence in the federal government, compared to 10 percent and 60 percent respectively in 1987. Moreover, this year, 44 percent of white respondents answered "not very much," compared to 23 percent in 1987. "None at all" was offered by 12 percent this year, up from 3 percent in 1987. Compared to 1987, white respondents also lost trust and confidence in state government. In 1992 "a great deal" measured 4 percent, one-third of the 1987 results (12 percent). The response "a fair amount" in 1987 (64 percent) decreased 18 percentage points among whites to 46 percent this year. "Not very much" increased from 17 percent in 1987 to 38 percent in 1992. This year 9 percent of whites responded "none at all," compared to only three percent in 1987. The level of trust and confidence in government among blacks, however, has not changed dramatically. State and federal government experienced marginal decreases in trust and confidence compared to 1987. In 1992, though, local government demonstrated gains in trust and confidence among blacks. This year, 9 percent responded "a great deal," compared to 5 percent in 1987. Moreover, 53 percent of blacks in 1992 expressed "fair amount" of trust and confidence in local government, up from 48 percent in 1987. "Not very much" declined (26 to 24 percent). "None at all" dropped from 18 percent in 1987 to 6 percent in 1992. Totaling the "great deal" and "fair amount" responses for the entire population, these losses in trust and confidence leave local governments clearly ahead (60 percent), states in the middle (51 percent), and the federal government with the least (42 percent). In 1987, all three governments were about equal by this measure (68 percent, 73 percent, and 73 percent). "The government closest to the people still remains the government of popular choice," said Robert B. Hawkins, Jr., ACIR Chairman. "Nevertheless, there has been a disturbing decline in public trust and confidence in all of our governments." "How much our view of one government in the federal system affects our views of other governments is an unknown factor here," said John Kincaid, ACIR September 1992 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 11 TABLE 1 How much trust and confidence do you have in your federal, state, or local government to do a good job in carrying out its responsibilities? 1992 (Percent)
Source: U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, Changing Public Attitudes on Government and Taxes 1992 (Washington, DC 1992). TABLE 1A How much trust and confidence do you have in your federal, state, or local government to do a good job in carrying out its responsibilities? 1987 (Percent)
Source: U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, Changing Public Attitudes on Government and Taxes 1987 (Washington, DC 1987). Page 12 / Illinois Municipal Review / September 1992 Executive Director. "The overwhelming media attention to the federal government, which enjoys the lowest levels of public trust and confidence, may color public attitudes toward state and local governments." The poll was conducted by The Gallup Organization, June 23-28, 1992. The results are based on in-person interviews with 1,045 adults aged 18 and older. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. Other questions sought views about federal preemption of state and local governments; the extent of federal power; the worst tax; the government that gives citizens the least for their money; and the condition and funding of public works. Detailed results and analysis of the poll will be published in Changing Public Attitudes on Governments and Taxes: 1992 (U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, 800 K Street, N.W., Suite 450, South Building, Washington, DC 20575, $10, Report S-21) which will be available in September. * * * The U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations is an independent, bipartisan, federal commission established by the Congress in 1959 to monitor and evaluate developments in the American federal system and to recommend improvements in intergovernmental cooperation and allocations of responsibilities. The Commission has 26 members — 3 private citizens, 6 members of Congress, 3 federal executive branch officials, 4 governors, 3 state legislators, 4 mayors, and 3 elected county officials. • September 1992 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 13 |
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