Confidence in Congress at record low.....12%

[BTS]

With the Progressives in charge, one would think it would be much higher by the positive message they are spreading this election year?

Maybe they are not gettin it right?





Confidence in Congress at record low

David Paul KuhnFri Jun 20, 12:49 PM ET





Only 12 percent of Americans now have confidence in Congress, the lowest percentage in the 35 years that the Gallup Poll has tracked the number.

Americans now view Congress less favorably any of the 14 other American institutions tracked by Gallup, including big business, newspapers and health maintenance organizations.



Even as President Bush’s approval rating languishes at a record low, more than twice as many Americans have confidence in the presidency — 26 percent — than have confidence in Congress.



The Democrats have controlled both houses of the Congress since January 2007. It remains to be seen whether the Democratic Party brand will find itself chained to the poor public view of the legislative branch. A recent analysis of ABC News-Washington Post polls found that in April the Democrats held a 24-point lead over President Bush as "the stronger leadership force in Washington." Today, it's a tie.



While Americans have long viewed their local representative more favorably than Congress as a whole, the public's current view of Congress is exceptionally poor. Today's 19 percent approval rating (a different measure than “confidence) ties the record low of August 2007 and March 1992.



Friday's survey showed an across-the-board disapproval of Washington, with only 32 percent of Americans expressing confidence in the Supreme Court.



The sense of malaise extends beyond the capital — Americans show less confidence than in 2004 in all 15 of the American institutions tracked by Gallup. That includes schools, organized labor and the military (which about 7 in 10 Americans show confidence in; it receives the highest percentage of the 15 institutions). Only banks and the criminal justice system have seen as precipitous a decline as the three branches of the federal government.

[watermark]

I'm not sure what the Congress does, votes for things the President wants. Thing with the Democrats in majority is I was expecting a united front and that's not what they are doing. Like hmm... what did they vote for most recently? Like today. Can't remember but it was something I heard and I thought my gosh what just happened? I thought there was some sort of "platform" parties stuck to.

That's why I'm a disenfranchised voter. I don't have anything to hold in esteem as far as what I believe. I changed my party affiliation not so long ago so I could voice my own humanistic agenda, assuming Democrats could get more done on this, and they can't even come to a consensus on environmental issues! (think the vote today was something about environment)

Congress is actually not something I'd like to be a part of, professionally speaking. I would never want that job. However I would only hope that those of same party could come to some agreement on the issues.

What would happen if Democrats had the congess majority and there was a Dem president? Why do people not like this? Just asking simply because I get the vibes that people don't like the idea. Although Dems are ineffectual in getting anything done, don't know what people worry about.

Well maybe you'll get some better, BTS, I'm not sure why such a low rating. There's a lot in congress who want to stay the same course, foreign policy wise, in order to show more powerful unity to the world (world doesn't know about the 12% rating).

Dems are usually more considerate of the world concerns than Republicans. Then as a whole they need more time and reflection to understand and come to some determination about what to do politically and defensively. Republicans don't think long and hard enough and come off as too agressive, whereas Democrats are too wishwasy a lot of the time.

It'd be better for the United States to listen more rather than talk so much and bomb countries and stockpile weapons and all that. I'm sickened by all the warfare. My gawd what a crock. It seems that most governments handle themselves this way not just US. Such childish behavior!

Democrats are childish too. I'd just like to see more progressives wanting progress. Be not afraid to speak their minds. Say no if you don't like what you're seeing. Though on other hand it's hard when you feel you know what is right but then you get more info that changes your mind a little and then you're like saying to yourself, golly there is more than one side to this.

I don't know. I never keep track of all the votes congress members make. It just dissapoints me to hear about how Congress votes something I don't like when they are Dems and humanitarians. Blech!

[Galbally]

I don't fully understand the Presidential system in the States, as its quite different from the Parliamentary system we have over here, and the one they have in Britain. But the American system has worked pretty well for a long time, so I am not sure if there is anything you could do to make it better consitutionally. Perhaps if people paid a little more attention to important things, as opposed to superficial crap, and stopped worrying more about football and shopping, then it would seem more relevant what Congress is doing and who is doing it. The same goes for over here as well.