Comments

You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name

Your e-mail (optional)

Website (optional)

	My Original Nic Pic-a-Nic Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Foto

Submit your comments on this article

Home Front: Politix

Congressional Approval at All-Time Low

2007-10-02

Go see the graphs at the link. Interesting that military confidence leads the pack. The radio reported this morning that Congress' approval ratings were lower now that when the Trunks were in power, an interesting spin.
The percentage of Americans with a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in Congress is at 14%, the lowest in Gallup's history of this measure -- and the lowest of any of the 16 institutions tested in this year's Confidence in Institutions survey. It is also one of the lowest confidence ratings for any institution tested over the last three decades.

Gallup's annual update on Americans' confidence in institutions shows that confidence ratings are generally down across the board compared with last year. The public's confidence ratings in several institutions, including Congress, are now at all-time low points in Gallup's history of this measure. These low ratings reflect the generally sour mood of the public at this time.

Of the 16 societal institutions tested in Gallup's 2007 update, Americans express the most confidence in the military. They have the least confidence in HMOs and Congress. Americans have much more confidence in "small" business than in "big" business.

Graphs plot general decline in several institutions, with discussion.

Bottom Line

Americans are currently in a very sour mood; a state of affairs that is reflected in the relatively low confidence ratings given many Americans institutions in Gallup's latest survey.

Confidence ratings for Congress are not only at the bottom of this year's list, but represent the lowest confidence rating in Congress in Gallup's history of using this confidence measure. This reflects a confluence of both the historically low standing of Congress in the minds of the public and the overall negative mindset of the American public.

Confidence in several other institutions is also at an all-time low point. We assume that the low confidence ratings measured this year are connected to Americans' broader malaise with the state of the country. It is not entirely clear what is behind the currently bad mood on the part of Americans, but Gallup analyses show that the Iraq war and the economy are certainly perceived as major problems at this point in time. The very low ratings for Congress suggest that Americans may be upset that their elected representatives have not been able to rectify these concerns as well.

Posted by:Bobby

#11 Sure, pork barrel politics is bad. But it pales in comparison to the huge number in congress who are Un-American and even treasonous in their words and actions.

There has always been pork, scandals and petty (sometimes not so petty) corruption in congress. Un-Americanism is a much newer thing. I think that and that alone accounts for the low approval ratings. They're gonna get what's coming to them. Mark my words.

Posted by: mcsegeek1 2007-10-02 22:47

#10 This reflects a confluence of both the historically low standing of Congress in the minds of the public and the overall negative mindset of the American public.

See, its not all the fault of congress. If the electorate wasn't in such a bad mood then they would like congress more.

We assume that the low confidence ratings measured this year are connected to Americans' broader malaise with the state of the country. It is not entirely clear what is behind the currently bad mood on the part of Americans, but Gallup analyses show that the Iraq war and the economy are certainly perceived as major problems at this point in time.

Obviously nothing to do with Congress.

Posted by: DoDo 2007-10-02 16:14

#9 I agree, Zen. The problem is usually that people hate 434 representatives and 98 senators. But they like their own, so they keep re-electing them. Massachusetts will elect Kennedy until he dies. Same with W. Virginia with Byrd, whatever district in PA that has Murtha, etc. People like it when a congress critter brings home the pork to THEIR district/state.

Posted by: Rambler 2007-10-02 15:50

#8 confidence in Congress is at 14%, the lowest in Gallup's history of this measure

A late breaking report reveals mass voluntary resignations of congressional representatives and senators in response to the public's lack of confidence. In other news: Bridge for sale.

Posted by: Zenster 2007-10-02 15:45

#7 Disagree Darth: the sheeple will vote as they are told to. very few will research beyond the TV news sound bites. Billary's arms vote flip flop won't even tickle the meter of awareness.....

Posted by: USN, Ret. 2007-10-02 14:53

#6 *giggle*

Posted by: trailing wife 2007-10-02 13:01

#5 Fear not. Once a Democrat is elected president all will be sunshine and cotton candy. Confidence in the economy and institutions will soar and the homeless will <~~disappear into mansions~~ become Soylent Green. Fixed for you.

Posted by: JFM 2007-10-02 12:44

#4 Fear not. Once a Democrat is elected president all will be sunshine and cotton candy. Confidence in the economy and institutions will soar and the homeless will disappear into mansions once again. The press will see to that.

Posted by: ed 2007-10-02 11:17

#3 People see washington for what it is. A corrupt pool of elitists. I can see many long sitting incumbents not being re-elected over the next couple of election cycles.

Posted by: DarthVader 2007-10-02 10:08

#2 You're getting down to identifying the core koolaid drinking party members, The Machine. Usually, the Donks poll pretty consistently somewhere around 24%. At 14%, I would surmise that the 10% difference is the radical left, neo-marxist, who are realizing that the old Donk political machine isn't going to deliver the nation over to them. The Trunks have about a 25% base too. That means there's something around 40% out there for grabs. [I know that doesn't add up to 100%, cause there's probably about 10% who wouldn't like anyone regardless of color, race, or creed. Permanent grouches.]

Confidence ratings for Congress are not only at the bottom of this year's list, but represent the lowest confidence rating in Congress in Gallup's history of using this confidence measure.

If we were to rewrite that in the words they employ for Global Warming, it would be "..the lowest confidence rating in Congress in history."

Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-10-02 08:59

#1 Which Presidential candidate is most likely to inspire confidence? This distaste for 'normal' politics has never been greater - though it has been at the heart of preventing all but a couple of sitting Senators from being elected President. Fred Thompson, as one who walked away from it, could be the beneficiary in '08.

Posted by: Glenmore 2007-10-02 07:36

00:00