RSS Feed MenuCracking jokes about Congressional thievery is something of a national past-time. But the results of the newest Gallup poll will likely startle even the cynical news dorks that have read enough of these polls to know that the American people don’t think highly of their government. For the first time since Gallup began conducting its annual “Honesty and Ethics of Professions” poll, a majority (55%) of Americans responded that they believe the honesty and ethical standards of “members of Congress” are “low” or “very low.” The American people don’t think senators are particularly upstanding citizens either: 49% said Senators have “low or very low” ethical standards.
Members of Congress finished dead last of all professions surveyed, clearing “car salespeople” by 4 percentage points. Most startling of all is that the Gallup report notes that “The deterioration in Congress’ ethics rating over the past year has occurred about equally among all three party groups. The percentage rating members’ honesty and ethical standards as low or very low rose by 8 points among Republicans and independents, and by 10 points among Democrats.” That means that this isn’t just the American people hating a political party … this is Americans hating the entire political class. This is, in effect, Americans saying that they don’t like the government.
Last year though wasn’t particularly rampant with outlandish scandals. A few congressmen got caught stealing or cheating on their wives, a governor got caught flying around the world to sleep with his Argentinean love. No Jack Abramoffs. No sex in the Oval Office. What happens when a real scandal happens?
Congress Less Trusted Than Ever | World of Ulysses // Dec 9, 2009 at 7:21 pm
[...] Cracking jokes about Congressional thievery is something of a national past-time. But the results of the newest Gallup poll will likely startle even the cynical news dorks that have read enough of these polls to know that the American people don’t think highly of their government. For the first time since Gallup began conducting its annual “Honesty and Ethics of Professions” poll, a majority (55%) of Americans responded that they believe the honesty and ethical standards of “members of Congress” are “low” or “very low.” The American people don’t think senators are particularly upstanding citizens either: 49% said Senators have “low or very low” ethical standards. full story [...]
rawstorysuspect01 // Dec 9, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Um. What about the bank bailouts? About how they just reported the public option will be dropped? What about everyone’s support of the ever more ridiculous war? What about EVERYTHING??? This place is a wreck and people know it. Congress is complicit in “the president’s” actions. We all know they are bought and paid for by the corporations. Our media shovels us filth and we eat it up. The rational arguments are insulted, laughed off the stage. The rabble will slowly rise up and they will demand action. With those demands ignored, they will take action themselves. Enough of this centralized corporatized circus show. Peace Now.
no place to call home
franco 2 // Dec 10, 2009 at 6:17 am
And this from a site the generally dismisses the tea party movement a silly anti-Obamists.
handworn // Dec 10, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Not a huge surprise that people are hypocrites about those they pay to take responsibility for the hard choices. Vote for ‘em, pay ‘em, forget ‘em, until circumstances permit the luxurious exercise of moral exhibitionism. If they should ever act MORE moral at times than the general public– well, that’s hard to prove, isn’t it? Vice is a smoking gun, virtue only an opportunity to shift one’s standards upwards until they’re just begging to be disappointed.
By the way, Jeb, I’m an admirer of yours, but that’s “pass-time” not “past-time.” Frumforum needs some better copyediting.