Liking the Feds Less

A new opinion survey finds Americans like their federal government less than at any time in the last 15 years but continue to think favorably of their state and local governments.

The Pew Research Center reports:

Just a third of Americans have a favorable opinion of the federal government, the lowest positive rating in 15 years. Yet opinions about state and local governments remain favorable, on balance. As a result, the gap between favorable ratings of the federal government and state and local governments is wider than ever.

Ten years ago, about two-thirds of Americans were positive about all three levels of government, federal, state and local. Now only one-third of Americans (33%) approve of what the feds are doing.

By contrast, more than half of Americans (52%) have favorable views of their state governments and almost two-thirds (61%) approve of their local governments.

Two years ago, the Pew Center released another survey whose results have probably not changed very much. In that poll, the Center found that "By almost every conceivable measure Americans are less positive and more critical of government these days." 

That survey reported "a perfect storm of conditions associated with distrust of government – a dismal economy, an unhappy public, bitter partisan-based backlash, and epic discontent with Congress and elected officials."

It found:

Rather than an activist government to deal with the nation’s top problems, the public now wants government reformed and growing numbers want its power curtailed. With the exception of greater regulation of major financial institutions, there is less of an appetite for government solutions to the nation’s problems – including more government control over the economy – than there was when Barack Obama first took office.

Looks like that perfect storm may be heading for the November elections. It has both parties apprehensive....