Volume 10, Issue 23
75% of Americans believe that the country is on the wrong track. This is an all-time high in measuring dissatisfaction.
NBC News just released new polling data on the perceptions of American citizens that is absolutely startling. Sixty-five percent of the American public does not trust that candidates are running for office with the true intent of providing community service or are committed to the greater good. They believe candidates are running for office to become part of the Washington, DC power structure to protect and advance special interests. Further, they are suspicious that current candidates are part of the problem. This cynicism is equally frightening when measured by party identity: Republicans 65%, Democrats 66%, Independents 63%. It is across the board.
Americans are not only distrustful of their government and government institutions, they have now lost hope in the integrity of candidates running for office. In the past, voters have indicated they did not like Congress, but they did like their own Congressman. This extension of skepticism can crack the foundations of our fragile democracy. Loss of trust in government, coupled with the loss of hope for the election of honest people to change things, can lead to citizen hopelessness. Hopelessness can drive discontent to anarchy.
This week, the Democrats are delivering their findings on the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Their opening statements come to the conclusion that former President Donald Trump, through a seven-step strategy, intended to disavow the federal election for the presidency and retain power through a constitutional coup. They are presenting their evidence in hopes that Attorney General Merrick Garland will find reasonable cause to indict the former president.
The Democratic controlled January 6th committee must first establish the facts that supports the conclusion that a crime was committed. The Attorney General will review the facts and analyze the law to determine whether the actions presumably taken by the former president meet the definition of criminal activity. In other words, is it possible to connect the dots to demonstrate an intentional roadmap to overthrow the government? Or was it just poor leadership without the necessary mens rea to commit a crime?
Arguments are being made by progressive leaders and media personalities that President Trump must be indicted to prevent the possibility of such a siege on the Capitol from ever happening again. They argue that, if he is not indicted, then the rule of law will have been obliterated.
Conservatives will claim that the Democrats should present more balance in their analysis of the evidence. Conservative leaders and media personalities will argue that the entire proceedings are a campaign ploy to demean Republicans in an election year. They will point to scripted teleprompters and media firms hired to independently film the proceedings to be used in campaign ads later in the election cycle.
Neither side is doing anything to alleviate the public’s fears that none of this is being done for their protection or best interest.
David Brooks, noted columnist for the New York Times, had a completely different spin on these proceedings. He suggested that the Democrats should convene a concurrent hearing on why 35% of the American public does not believe that the 2020 elections were conducted honestly. It doesn’t matter whether the elections were conducted with complete integrity or not. What is important is to alleviate the American people’s fears of fraud and self-dealing politicians by restoring their trust in the process.
This new data that Americans not only don’t trust politicians in office, they don’t trust candidates running for office, brings the United States to a new point of democratic peril. This is not the Republican party at odds with the Democratic party. A majority of both parties feel the same way and are in agreement that government is corrupt. The parties may disagree on what type of government policy they want, but they may be bonding through their fear of the futility of the democratic process. This awkward unity could lead to both taking matters into their own hands.
Congress should be holding hearings on this developing 65% apprehension of the American public at the same time they are attacking each other on the facts and findings for criminal activity surrounding the January 6th Capitol insurrection.
In this coming election cycle, voters may be faced with the decision that it is less about personal beliefs on policy, and more about finding people to send to Congress who will simply do the right thing.
Unless we stop this deterioration of confidence in the basic democratic process that is not just the essence of America, but its lifeblood, the entire concept of self-rule will be in jeopardy.
Trust in government begins with each of us trusting each other, regardless of ideological division. Trust enables the compromise of the ballot box.
Once again, regaining confidence in government requires Americans in their families, through their cities, churches and social precincts, to take authority and set new standards to hold elected officials accountable for pledging to provide community service for the greater good of the citizens, not government.
Freedom's protection demands the vigilance of the people. This imperative never takes a holiday.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?