Confidence in U.S. political system lowest in decades: poll

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

Confidence in U.S. political system lowest in decades: poll
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-30 04:23:50|Editor: Yamei



WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Over one third of U.S. citizens are "not proud" of the way democracy works in the country, a record high in the past few decades, according to a recent poll.

U.S. citizens were unsatisfied overall regarding the country's politics, identifying money in politics as the "root of all evils," showed the Washington Post-University of Maryland poll which was released Saturday.

When asked "how proud are you of the way democracy works in America," 36 percent of those polled said they were not proud, those who identify themselves as Democrats are more disappointed than those as Republicans or independents.

The data were in a stark contrast with those gathered since 1996, when the percentage of those who claimed they were not proud never topped 20 percent in the four similar polls during that time.

When asked to draw a comparison between the societal divisiveness now and during the Vietnam war, 70 percent said the division now is "at least as big as during the Vietnam war," while 27 percent said the division during the war was greater.

Over 70 percent of those polled also believed that the country's politics have "reached a dangerously low point," among them roughly half believe that this period is temporary while the other half say the low point is here to stay.

Money was pointed as the top two reasons behind the troubled signs in U.S. politics, according to the research, as 96 percent believe "money in politics" should be blamed for political dysfunction, the same for 94 percent with "wealthy political donors."

KEY WORDS:poll

 

[Gomig-21]

Over one third of U.S. citizens are "not proud" of the way democracy works in the country, a record high in the past few decades, according to a recent poll.

I bet you that's a VERY conservative number and it's probably MUCH higher than 1/3 since that number is obviously relegated to strictly the poll participants.

"reached a dangerously low point,"

We are probably witnessing the worst times on US politics, going back to the inception of this great country. What this guy has brought to the highest position in the world is nothing short of shameful. From his behavior, to the dark and shady cloud that surrounds him and many who are part of his circle, to his constant lying to the way he has divided this nation -- when his primary purpose should be to unite it, especially the people -- to his obsession with destroying everything that his predecessor has accomplished to so much more. What I also find disturbing is the majority of his supporters can't even bring themselves to criticize one single thing about him, even if it reeks of wrong and bad. They support him blindly and without any ability to be objective.

This nation has been divided since the beginning of time, but every president has always made the effort to unite Americans even within these recent and extremely divisive times we live in, but this guy has made it even more divisive with so many things he's done in less than 1 year of being in office.

The other scary part is how immune we've become to all his lying and crying and obsession with the candidate he's already beat. He has no ability to take what's been given to him and make the best of it! It's unfathomable and now we have to wait and see how far up the ladder this Russia thing will go, now that it has begun. But seeing the way things have been going, it doesn't look pretty for the POTUS. The only thing he has going for him ATM is his power and with that power he can pardon as he pleases. Whether he can pardon himself is another question. If he can't, he'll have to hope that the next president is a Republican who'd be sympathetic enough to do it for him. Really incredibly uncertain times ahead.

 

[cloud4000]

We are probably witnessing the worst times on US politics, going back to the inception of this great country

United States has gone through much worse than what's going through now. The US civil war, the Great Depression, World War II, the turbulent 1960s, and 9/11? Donald Trump is no picnic, to be sure, but the US is not on fire, nor is it the worst times in US politics. It's situations like these that test the mettle of America's political system. I have more faith in the system than I do Donald Trump. He won't be around forever, but the country will. I have no worries.

 

[Gomig-21]

United States has gone through much worse than what's going through now. The US civil war, the Great Depression, World War II, the turbulent 1960s, and 9/11? Donald Trump is no picnic, to be sure, but the US is not on fire, nor is it the worst times in US politics. It's situations like these that test the mettle of America's political system. I have more faith in the system than I do Donald Trump. He won't be around forever, but the country will. I have no worries.

I completely agree with everything except the political environment. The other events you mentioned are larger in terms of the scope of events, but what is happening inside the White House in terms of the political system is not something we've ever seen, at least I can't remember even looking through history. Some might come close like the turmoil during JFK and Nixon, but this here seems to out-do both of those.

 

[American Pakistani]

I've said several times, the clown administration of Mr trumpy is not approved whole heartedly by millions of majority of Americans.

 

[cloud4000]

I completely agree with everything except the political environment. The other events you mentioned are larger in terms of the scope of events, but what is happening inside the White House in terms of the political system is not something we've ever seen, at least I can't remember even looking through history. Some might come close like the turmoil during JFK and Nixon, but this here seems to out-do both of those.

Yes, I agree. Especially in my lifetime, I never seen someone like Trump become anything but a sideshow. May be a Congressman, or even a Senator, but a POTUS? Never. Still, I'm thankful for the checks and balances in the system that limits Trumps actions.

 

[大汉奸柳传志]

Is it true the US political system is fairly corrupted and very vulnerable to foreign influence? Some even say the sitting POTUS is a russia installed mole.

China could exploit this... infiltrate US gov and slowly taking control.. for thesake of humanity and world peace

 

[KAL-EL]

Is it true the US political system is fairly corrupted and very vulnerable to foreign influence? Some even say the sitting POTUS is a russia installed mole.

China could exploit this... infiltrate US gov and slowly taking control.. for thesake of humanity and world peace

The us could exploit and take control of the moons cheddar cheese deposits for the sake of humanity and peace.

United States has gone through much worse than what's going through now. The US civil war, the Great Depression, World War II, the turbulent 1960s, and 9/11? Donald Trump is no picnic, to be sure, but the US is not on fire, nor is it the worst times in US politics. It's situations like these that test the mettle of America's political system. I have more faith in the system than I do Donald Trump. He won't be around forever, but the country will. I have no worries.

Well said sir.. Well said!

 

[Gomig-21]

Yes, I agree. Especially in my lifetime, I never seen someone like Trump become anything but a sideshow. May be a Congressman, or even a Senator, but a POTUS? Never. Still, I'm thankful for the checks and balances in the system that limits Trumps actions.

I think we are all closet Trump fans in one way or the other, because as long as he doesn't destroy the country, how much fun is this?

 

[F-22Raptor]

I completely agree with everything except the political environment. The other events you mentioned are larger in terms of the scope of events, but what is happening inside the White House in terms of the political system is not something we've ever seen, at least I can't remember even looking through history. Some might come close like the turmoil during JFK and Nixon, but this here seems to out-do both of those.

Like Cloud said, Trump is a test of the US political system. Considering some of the things he's wanted to get done, and has failed at, I'd say we're holding up pretty well.

The US has been through much worse times. Go speak with people that lived through WW2, and they'll tell you how scary it was. An of course the 1960's were hell on wheels. You had the Vietnam War, race riots, counter culture revolution, Cuban Missile Crisis, assassinations of JFK, RK, and MLK, the Space Race etc.

Trump is an embarrassment, but we'll survive his clown show to.

 

[jhungary]

Was gonna say the US is going to last longer under trump then the douche who put this up on getting banned, but then that guy was already banned just as I saw this post...so...

 

[Gomig-21]

Like Cloud said, Trump is a test of the US political system. Considering some of the things he's wanted to get done, and has failed at, I'd say we're holding up pretty well. The US has been through much worse times. Go speak with people that lived through WW2, and they'll tell you how scary it was. An of course the 1960's were hell on wheels. You had the Vietnam War, race riots, counter culture revolution, Cuban Missile Crisis, assassinations of JFK, RK, and MLK, the Space Race etc.

All events that have nothing to do with what I said. I was referring to the events inside the confines of the WH, not so much outside although I did reference the divisiveness that this current president is in fact creating and not uniting. But primarily the focus was at the crapshow that's going on within the US political system.

The comparison or description is flawed. Look at the presidents and their records whom were in office during the calamitous events you mentioned. FDR? Are you kidding me, bro? That man falls in the folklore of not only one of the greatest presidents who served in the WH but one of the greatest men who walked this earth. WWII wasn't his doing. He was followed by Truman only because FDR died but even Truman basically ended WWII and prevented the use of the atom bomb a second time in Korea. Cuban missile Crisis was averted because of another great man in office who basically paid for that accomplishment with his life. Space race? That was one of the greatest times on this earth. And BTW, my wife's uncle was a Marine who fought on Okinawa. Pure Irishman and once he got sauced up you should hear the stories. Yes, WWII was a very trying time and doesn't compare to what we're going through now, but that wasn't the point I was referring to. And Vietnam (post Lyndon Johnson) was about as close in terms of the activities that were going on behind the walls and I did elude to that.

Trump is an embarrassment, but we'll survive his clown show to.

Of course we will, I never said we wouldn't. I think you guys are missing the point.