Most Americans Don’t Trust Our Government Anymore, Buy Why?
Today, according to polls Americans trust in our Federal Government to do the right thing is around 19%. You can contrast this to polls in the 1964, when most American’s trust in the Federal Government was 74%.
I have heard many disturbing things from people I personally know, as well as statements from politicians in recent years as to why our Federal Government is evil. I am sure that you have heard the same sort of things as well:
- I need my guns (including assault weapons) to protect myself against Government tyranny.
- Republicans have routinely tried to de-legitimize President Obama as our legally elected President.
- The Democratic Party as well as The Republican Party have now decided that compromise is somehow a bad thing.
- Conservative TV and radio pundits as well as illegitimate websites posing as “News” have spread lies and half-truths.
Lets look at these different rationals one by one.
I need my guns (including assault weapons) to protect myself against Government tyranny.
Seriously? When the founding fathers of The United States wrote our United States constitution, They stated clearly in the preamble exactly what they had in mind. The preamble states: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” The United States Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788.
So, consider this, since when in the intervening 228 years have we ever had any reason to believe that the United States Government was going to turn upon us and we would actually need our guns to protect us from Government tyranny? Think about it…..Never! Not only never, I don’t see any evidence that the Government is going to start now, or anytime in the foreseeable future..
Republicans have routinely tried to de-legitimize President Obama as our legally elected President.
Personally, I find this Republican tactic to the most disgusting and racist tactic utilized by Republicans in modern times. Any attempt to legitimize a legally elected, American born President is incredibly dangerous.
Obviously, Me, You, and most educated Americans can see right through this bullshit. But, the sad thing is there are many, many, people who actually believe this nonsense with the help of the right-wing media and other so-called news websites that spew only lies and conspiracy theory’s. This only feeds into the false narrative that our Federal Government can’t be trusted.
I can’t think of anything more destabilizing to our belief in our federal Government then to insinuate that our legally elected President and the Government he established was somehow illegitimate. Even more scary is, the uneducated actually believe this bullshit.
The Democratic Party as well as The Republican Party have now decided that compromise is somehow a bad thing.
Prior to the 1990’s the Republican Party consisted of a Conservative wing, a Moderate wing, and a Liberal wing. Yes it’s true. The Democratic Party also consisted of a Conservative wing, a Moderate wing, and a Liberal wing of the party.
Obviously, this inter-party philosophical mix enabled an easy compromise solution concerning any particular issue, as there were elements of both parties that could work out some sort of compromise deal.
The founding fathers of our nation forged the Declaration of Independence and The United Constitution based upon huge compromises. Which begs the question, when did compromise become a bad word?
Somewhere along the way the Republican Party purged the moderate and liberal wings of their party and the Democrats purged the conservative wing of their party. This is a major reason why we have so much partisan gridlock and distrust in Government that we have today.
Conservative radio and TV pundits as well as illegitimate websites posing as “News” have spread lies and half truths.
Let’s face it, Fox News, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Info-wars, Drudge report, Breitbart News, and a host of others basically spew lies and half-truths designed specifically to sway the uneducated with lies specifically tailored to play upon their fears and insecurities thus creating a huge feedback loop.
Nothing like preying upon the uneducated and ill-informed for profit. The sad thing is any one of these wing-nuts lies could be easily discredited by some basic research or even simple internet searches. OH, but wait they made sure to make these poor souls not to trust any sort of regular media, as according to these despicable excuses for humanity, ALL the main stream media lies, and they are the only ones telling the truth. This is truly very sad. It is so obviously true that some people do not suffer from the ravages of intelligence.
So, where does this leave us?
Personally, I believe in our Federal Government, I believe that the Federal Government (mostly) attempts to do the right thing by the American public. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t agree with “everything” our Government does. This of course is predicated on what issues the Government is advocating at any given moment.
Think about it, where would we be, if not for our Federal Government and that more perfect union that our founding fathers envisioned?
Of course, I have powerful weapons at my disposal. First, I do my own research, I use multiple information sources, I make up my own mind, as I don’t need others doing it for me.
Lastly, …..I get involved, and….I Vote!
A founding father once said; “Democracy is founded upon a well-educated population” It was true then, it is even more appropriate now.
What do you think?
As Always,
I Am,
Tom Dye, The Safety Guy
