Americans Don't Trust Their Politicians

There has always been a segment of the population that simply doesn't trust government or the politicians that run the government. But it seems like in the last few years there have been a rash of politicians of both parties that don't seem to mind lying to voters -- whether it be about their own lives or the programs they support (or oppose). Hypocrisy has almost become a requirement for elected office.

The Hill decided that wanted to see just how big a percentage of the population thought politicians were dishonest, so they commissioned a poll by Pulse Opinion Research of 1,000 likely voters. The poll was conducted on June 9th. It seems that a significant majority of the population has a pretty low opinion of politicians -- of both parties and sexes. Here are the results:

HAVE POLITICIANS' ETHICAL STANDARDS DETERIORATED OR IMPROVED IN RECENT DECADES?
Deteriorated...............68%
Improved...............7%

ARE MOST CURRENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS UNETHICAL OR PRINCIPLED?
Unethical...............58%
principled...............25%
Unsure...............17%

WHICH POLITICAL PARTY IS MORE TRUSTWORTHY?
(General Population)
Republicans...............29%
Democrats...............31%
Neither...............36%
(Independents)
Republicans...............20%
Democrats...............19%
Neither...............54%

ARE MEN OR WOMEN POLITICIANS MORE ETHICAL & HONEST?
Men...............5%
Women...............33%
Same...............60%

DO YOU APPROVE OF THE JOB THE CURRENT CONGRESS IS DOING?
Approve...............28%
Disapprove...............69%

Those are some pretty bad numbers -- and it extends to both parties and sexes (although women are slightly more trusted than men). Frankly, if I was a politician I don't think I'd admit it in public these days.