Congress and the Decline of Public Trust (Transforming American Politics)

Since the time of Watergate and Vietnam, trust in government has fallen precipitously. This can easily be sensed in the apathy and divisiveness that now characterize American politics, but it is perhaps most clearly revealed in poll data. The great majority of Americans do not trust the government В“to do whatвЂTMs right all or most of the time”. Nor do they believe that government is run for В“the benefit of all” rather than for В“a few big interests”. The nine essays in this volume detail the present character of distrust, analyze its causes, assess the dangers it poses for the future of representative government in the United States, and suggest remedies.The focus of the analysis is on Congress because of its pivotal role in representative government in the United States. The authors also examine patterns of trust in societal institutions and trust in the Presidency, especially in light of the Clinton impeachment controversy. Because the causes and effects of distrust are complex and pervasive, the individual chapters highlight many of the defining features and issues of contemporary American politics. These include the emergence of a politics that is far more ideological, candidate centered, and captive to interest groups, the changing character and enhanced importance of the media, the mounting costs of campaigns, the contradictions in public attitudes toward political leaders and processes, the causes and consequences of public misconceptions of democratic politics, and the need for reform in campaign finance, media practices, and civic education. 00000___6235d235e873d59504631f669569e4ad......Page 1 00001___f82fd6c9c74ae4159340eb96ec9e82f9......Page 2 00002___5dbdca928b1c658253e817bc1b8fc6f3......Page 3 00003___b0788098957c32123a7992f34003677c......Page 4 00004___d89e80b63663ac77f7bfed4702f9e430......Page 5 00005___28b2b355ddfbb66083c6f8dab8bddf41......Page 6 00006___b587954f0a56eb04d12b442c7ddacc36......Page 7 00007___c888e02f0a6fa6093172ff420989922f......Page 8 00008___dfcf5fe29a383628d1740c4927dbf3c0......Page 9 00009___2cc2004119710be3ef4ab1e98a2337fc......Page 10 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This Decline In Trust Can Easily Be Sensed In The Apathy And Divisiveness That Now Characterize American Politics, But It Is Perhaps Most Clearly Revealed In Poll Data. The Great Majority Of Americans Do Not Trust The Government To Do What's Right All Or Most Of The Time. They Also Do Not Believe That Government Is Run For The Benefit Of All Rather Than For A Few Big Interests. The Nine Essays In This Volume Detail The Present Character Of Distrust, Analyze Its Causes, Assess The Dangers It Poses For The Future Of Representative Government In The United States, And Suggest Remedies.--jacket. The Focus Of The Analysis Is On Congress Because Of Its Pivotal Role In Representative Government In The United States. The Contributors Also Examine Patterns Of Trust In Societal Institutions And The Presidency, Especially In Light Of The Clinton Impeachment Controversy.--jacket. The Puzzle Of Distrust / Joseph Cooper -- Insiders With A Crisis From Outside : Congress And The Public Trust / David M. Shribman -- Appreciating Congress / John R. Hibbing -- Congress And Public Trust : Is Congress Its Own Worst Enemy? / Roger H. Davidson -- How Good People Make Bad Collectives : A Social-psychological Perspective On Public Attitudes Toward Congress / Diana C. Mutz And Gregory N. Flemming -- Congress, Public Trust, And Education / Mary A. Hepburn And Charles S. Bullock Iii -- Performance And Expectations In American Politics : The Problem Of Distrust In Congress / Joseph Cooper -- Epilogue : The Clinton Impeachment Controversy And Public Trust / Joseph Cooper. Edited By Joseph Cooper ; Foreword By Bill Bradley. Sponsored By The Dirksen Congressional Center Project On Public Trust. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Since the time of Watergate and Vietnam, trust in government has fallen precipitously. This can easily be sensed in the apathy and divisiveness that now characterize American politics, but it is perhaps most clearly revealed in poll data. The great majority of Americans do not trust the government?to do what's right all or most of the time?. Nor do they believe that government is run for?the benefit of all? rather than for?a few big interests?. The nine essays in this volume detail the present character of distrust, analyze its causes, assess the dangers it poses for the future of representative government in the United States, and suggest remedies. The focus of the analysis is on Congress because of its pivotal role in representative government in the United States. The authors also examine patterns of trust in societal institutions and trust in the Presidency, especially in light of the Clinton impeachment controversy. Because the causes and effects of distrust are complex and pervasive, the individual chapters highlight many of the defining features and issues of contemporary American politics. These include the emergence of a politics that is far more ideological, candidate centered, and captive to interest groups, the changing character and enhanced importance of the media, the mounting costs of campaigns, the contradictions in public attitudes toward political leaders and processes, the causes and consequences of public misconceptions of democratic politics, and the need for reform in campaign finance, media practices, and civic education."--Provided by publisher Since the late 1960s, trust in government has fallen precipitously. The nine essays composing this volume detail the present character of distrust, analyze its causes, assess the dangers it poses, and suggest remedies. The focus is on trust in the Congress. The contributors also examine patterns of trust in societal institutions and the presidency, especially in light of the Clinton impeachment controversy. Among the themes the book highlights are the impacts of present patterns of politics, the consequences of public misunderstanding of democratic politics, the significance of poll data, and the need for reform in campaign finance, media practices, and civic education.