Poll Measures High Distrust In American Institutions
A poll by the Associated Press and the National Constitution Center shows extremely high levels of distrust in most of the political, economic, and cultural institutions in America. The “age of cynicism” that we live in seems to continue to intensify without limit.
The poll contains a lot of fodder for bloggers interested in blasting various institutions. Congress comes in at a record low. Banks come in for a new round of skepticism, which is unsurprising as the Great Recession drags on. Print and broadcast media continue to be dragged down by the blatant and obvious partisanship of major outlets like FoxNews and the New York Times.
But bloggers should not celebrate too quickly. Blogs themselves enjoy roughly the same level of trust as Congress. This should be sobering news for those who see blogs as a meaningful “new media” check on politicians — a strong majority of the public sees us as just as untrustworthy as those we criticize.
Maybe there are a lot of good reasons for that.
9 Responses to “Poll Measures High Distrust In American Institutions”
Frankly, I’m not surprised. With definite exceptions (and I believe this blog to be one of those exceptions), most political blogs become their own echo chamber (see FireDogLake and Powerline for example). Many political blogs are the more modern equivalent of talk radio. Despite whatever bias one feels that a site like TMV has, (most) everyone is generally respectful as long as they are given some respect as well. The main difference is that tone isn’t always as apparent in the written word as it is in audio/video.
Aw, you can’t trust the pollsters these days, especially the political ones.
(sarcasm)
Yeah, 98% of conservative blogs beat the living crap out of you if you don’t lock-step with them right away. Any complaint BANNED….see ya….don’t let the door..etc..
Same for most liberal blogs too.
Hey I’d love to go off, food fights are fun, but you never learn anything. It’s just a mental masterbation.
Here I can learn something from time to time and laugh WITH, instead of AT, people. Even Logan if he would ever crack a smile.
There has to be a political place where people can just lay back and ponder a bit. This blog comes closest to that.
“Even Logan if he would ever crack a smile.”
Now that is a fair criticism.
High distrust and high self-confidence….
sounds like we are all narcissistic psychopaths
There is a time to live, a time to die, a time to reap, and a time to lite’n up.
I probably have as much reason to be infected with cynicism as most, and I exhibit my share of symptoms as well, but I also see it as a copout and indulgence in negative energy. Do what you can to make the world a better place and try not to do things that make it worse. Meanwhile, rage against the tempest if you like, just don’t expect an answer.
And oh yes, try to be honest – especially with yourself, and don’t take the natural world for granted. It isn’t endless and it wasn’t created just for you.
I get ‘Quotes of the Day’ piped onto my home page every day, one of today’s quotes seems to fit in with what I think you’re saying:
But than again, maybe it’s got nothing to do with your comment, I just can’t read a good Vonnegut quote and not share it.
Thanks Steve! I love it! Long time fan of Vonnegut here as well.