ease choose one of the following questions and react to it briefly in the discussion boards.

According to this recent Pew Research poll, (Links to an external site: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/22/key-findings-about-americans-declining-trust-in-government-and-each-other/) American show high levels of cynicism about government and display low levels of trust in the federal government. However, when asked about specific programs Americans often show much more positive opinions of the performance of the federal government (Links to an external site: https://www.people-press.org/2015/11/23/3-views-of-governments-performance-and-role-in-specific-areas/). Why do you believe is this the case? Do you believe this is a problem for American democracy? Why or why not?

Federal justices are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, so voters have no direct say in who is selected. However, many state courts (like Texas) use competitive elections to select judges, while other states (like California) hold retention elections where the governor first appoints a justice and voters then decide in the next election if they want that individual to continue on. Which selection method do you think is superior? Should justices be elected or appointed? How might these mechanisms change their decisions?

The power of “special interests” in DC is often decried by many. Do you believe that interest groups have too much power in the United States? Why or why not? If you believe they have too much power, how could this be addressed?

ANSWER

Declining trust in American Government

Declining trust in American Government

Trust is essential neighborly relation and public life. However, Americans have shown a decline in trust among each other and the government, which makes it challenging to solve critical problems. A large number of Americans have little or no confidence in the federal government, which has affected the ability of the U.S government to solve major national problems. Lack of trust in the government has been linked to low government performance as well as the government participating in the wrong things (Pew Research Center, 2019).

Over the years, political processes have been controlled by money, which has played a massive part in corrupting government operations. For instance, voting rights have been violated, leading to reduced voter participation in elections. In the 2016 presidential elections, millions of eligible Americans did not vote. This is because of the potential voters feel that they have been alienated from the government. Despite the frustration and distrust with the government, the public ratings on specific areas have indicated the excellent performance of the government. For instance, the public survey has shown that the government is doing an excellent job in responding to natural disasters, keeping the country safe, strengthening the economy, ensuring access to health care, and maintaining infrastructure (Pew Research Center, 2015). However, the decline in trust has been inclined to poor political leadership and the role of money in politics. This has dramatically affected the grassroots of democracy with the United States.

There is a problem with America’s democracy since voter suppression has been utilized in political processes to deny Americans their right to vote. Americans indicated that there is a crisis of trust in their democratic practices. The obstacles in voting have led to issues related to representative democracy. From the strict ID laws to purging voter rolls and closing polling places, it becomes deliberately challenging for the minority community in America to exercise their democratic rights. This has led to a dramatic decrease in trust in America’s democratic institutions since the government seems unresponsive to exploitative tendencies.

References

Pew Research Center. (2015). Views of government’s performance and role in specific areas. Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2015/11/23/3-views-of-governments-performance-and-role-in-specific-areas/

Pew Research Center. (2019). Key findings about Americans’ declining trust in government and each other. Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/22/key-findings-about-americans-declining-trust-in-government-and-each-other/