Angry at Government

A look at the run-up to the election, in case you were curious.

Most were angry with our government according to the poll last spring by the AP ...

... angry about immigration policy.
... angry about pointless congressional deadlock.
... angry about lies and lobbyists and moneyed interests being favored.
... angry about the economy and foreign trade deals and debt.
... angry about inequality and the wealthy elite.

It's not a recent phenomenon ...
Why would Americans be progressively more dissatisfied with politicians and government?




Note the trend since the turn of the century.


The difficult task is figuring out why.  Is it the president?  The trend spans the administrations of both parties.  It spans years of trouble in the international community and global change.

Can we point to things that might be common across these years?





Conservatives and liberals would perhaps blame each other, but the parties agree on their disapproval of Congress.  As a whole, Congress has been an impediment to reasonable policy and progress in addressing important issues; almost a dead end.  And angry people voted for change.

We're facing an interesting time, and many are truly frightened by the prospects.  There is nothing in our past that compares to today, of course, but there have been many difficult times.  The years following the world wars changed the nation, the years following Korea, Vietnam, and 9/11 changed the nation.  Everything has changed and continues to to do so, but we are a resilient nation, a durable people.  Perhaps the difficult times will provoke meaningful change for the better.  Many are praying that way.

It's perhaps worth noting that conflict continues unabated in the world, and it is largely economic.  The wars of conquest and empire from generations past have evolved into today's competition for wealth and advantage, and it continues both internally and on a global scale. That is perhaps much of what occupies government's attention these days ... becoming greater.  Not better or more honorable, not decent or upright ... just wealthier, more powerful, and economically bigger than the rest.

Any adjustments needed?