NewsWire: 6/23/22
- Only 21% of Americans trust the government to do the right thing “always” or “most of the time.” This figure reflects anemic trust in government among voters for both parties, but Republicans’ trust in particular has sunk to its lowest level in at least 60 years. (Pew Research Center)
- NH: Just 21% of Americans trust the government to do the right thing “always” (2%) or “most of the time” (19%). Low public trust in government has been with us for the last 15 years: Since 2008, this share has never risen above a quarter of Americans. While trust is relatively low within both parties, it’s fallen to a 60-year low among Republicans (9%). People’s views of political officials are also largely negative, with 65% saying that all or most candidates who run for office do so to serve their own interests.
- Pew’s poll found few differences between the views of younger and older Republicans. However, this wasn’t the case with younger and older Democrats. Democrats under age 35 are less likely than Democrats 65+ by double-digit margins to trust the government and are more likely to believe that the government intentionally withholds information.
- Young Americans, at the same time, continue to be the most likely of any age group to say that the government should do more to solve problems (63%). This is 10 percentage points higher than the public overall. They’re also significantly more likely than their elders to say that government aid to the poor does more good than harm. These results support an observation we have often made before: Millennials’ unhappiness with the government is more likely to be triggered by the perception that it isn’t doing enough.
- Pew also asked Americans whether the government should have a “major role” in specific issues, such as strengthening the economy and managing immigration. In general, these views have shifted little since 2020. There are two exceptions in which support has declined: helping people get out of poverty (falling from 62% to 52%) and handling threats to public health (from 78% to 73%). In both cases, these declines were driven by steep drops among Republicans.
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