Do we trust government?

How should we evaluate the voting public's confidence in leaders and government institutions? Stanford political science Professor Margaret Levi offers a few fresh approaches.

[GertrudePerkins]

*"Mother, should I trust the Government?"*

NO F**KING WAY!!!

[t.c.b.]

I would trust my enemy before I ever, ever trust the government

[tbone]

Never trust America's government, especially after the Vietnam War, wiping out a generation of young American boys.

[shadowshow]

You are so off the charts wrong, it's hilarious (in a really sad pathetic kind of way). There are three very obvious reasons that open protest is no longer an option:
1. We are flat out just trying to survive that many have neither energy or will to 'go on a march' or whatever:
2. We live in a police state ruled by tyrannical and unjust laws and so many more of us are too afraid to draw the State's attention to ourselves - particularly knowing we will be filmed and dobbed Into boss so cld we'll lose our jobs;
3. The rest of us know full well that protesting is a complete waste of time. It didn't change anything in the 30s or the 60s and it sure as well won't change things now.
Only hope now would be full on revolution but we are all too alienated propaganda ridden, depressed and exhausted for that. As you would well know

[themnax]

its not a matter of trusting "government" but of not trusting the wanabe usurpation of government by economic interests. the fraimers of the constitution knew better then to trust each other implicitly, and that everyday people were, on average, no better then themselves. but felt the worst dangers could be avoided by preventing too much power from being concentrated in any one pair of hands. it is a principal easily forgotten, but no one getting everything they want often a good thing. it hasn't always worked, because a piece of paper after all, depends on what people do with it.

[jtqzfvyrlrhj]

Stanford sure does trust government; they love the funding!

[ArminAlibasic]

Few very rich people control majority of your goverment and they act according to instructions of these people who are invisible to the stage.

[BethGrantDeRoos]

Listening to average people depending on where they live and one hears many who voice a dislike of the Federal government whom they feel controls to much state and local government or what local people want or don't want. Social media like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube has also provided a means for the average American to have their dissatisfaction amplified. The dislike from people who do not think they are being heard, be they from the inner city or rural areas, the two most ignored communities when it comes to federal and to some extent state government. Look at how government has grown, to the point its become akin to an employment agency.

[crimsonhermit]

no one has the right to govern anyone… people are so lost

[rogerehrenberg]

She spent her whole life studying. It was a waste of time.

[Touficast]

Good point! Thanks Margaret. For any sceptical in US government, I urge you to travel to random 10 countries, when you come back, you will likely have a different view. (If you come back safely)