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A skepticism about government and its abilities has always been a key component of American political culture. From the founding of the republic, Americans worried about excessive governmental power, choosing instead to put their faith in individuals and private groups. French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, for example, pointed out that Americans are far more likely than other peoples to join together to solve a problem in his two-volume book Democracy in America (1835, 1840).
Many people have seen and continue to see the government as a necessary evil, something that is not good in itself but is needed to protect people. James Madison, writing in Federalist Paper No. 51 (1787), stated that government is only needed because people sometimes mistreat one another and act in their own self-interest to the detriment of others. Since the 1960s, opinion of government has deteriorated even further. Political cynicism has become common, and Americans generally no longer believe in the government’s ability to effect change.
Overarching Mistrust
Recent wars and governmental scandals have heightened American mistrust of government. In the 1960s, many people became disillusioned with the government during the Vietnam War. Likewise, in 1974, President Richard Nixon’s resignation in the wake of the Watergate scandal only heightened Americans’ suspicion of government. In 1986, the Iran-Contra scandal tarnished President Ronald Reagan’s popularity, and some Republicans never forgave President George H. W. Bush for reneging on the “no new taxes” pledge he made in 1988. Likewise, President Bill Clinton’s behavior with Monica Lewinsky and subsequent impeachment in 1998 damaged his presidency. As a result of these events, the number of Americans who trust the federal government has steadily declined since the 1960s.
Lack of Political Efficacy
Political efficacy is the belief that one’s actions can make a difference in government and that the government listens to normal, everyday people. One sign of American mistrust of government is a decline in feelings of political efficacy over the last few decades. Many Americans feel that the government only listens to special interests, not to average citizens. Some Americans feel such a lack of political efficacy that they do not bother voting or participating in politics in any way.
Rallying Young Voters
MTV stepped into the political arena in 1992 with Rock the Vote, an attempt to get young people to participate in the political process. During presidential elections, MTV runs news about issues that affect young people and explains how to register to vote. In 2004, World Wrestling Entertainment launched a similar effort called Smackdown Your Vote! These and other youth-oriented campaigns have increased voter turnout among young people.
Little Knowledge About Government
Many Americans do not know much about their government and are unable to name their representatives in Congress or even key figures in their local governments. For some people, government does not seem to play a major role in their lives, so they do not pay much attention to politics. Others complain about the difficulty involved in learning about the issues and their representatives, particularly state and local representatives. A growing number of people also see the news as biased and thus do not trust what they see on television or read in the newspapers.
Pop Culture and Politics
Polls showing American ignorance of politics are fairly common. Some polls show that Americans usually know more about popular culture than about politics. For example, more people can name a contestant from the television show American Idol than a member of the Supreme Court.
According to most theories about democracies, citizens need to be knowledgeable about politics in order to make wise choices. Some argue that because Americans do not know much about politics, they make bad political decisions, which, in turn, leads to political apathy. Others argue that political ignorance does not have such a negative effect because citizens spend their time focusing on issues or hobbies that matter more to them and are thus much happier citizens.
Learning About Government
For those who wish to learn more about their elected leaders, the Internet has all kinds of great resources:
- www.house.gov – The House of Representatives’ website
- www.senate.gov – The Senate’s website
- www.firstgov.gov – The federal government’s web portal, with access to websites for federal agencies, state governments, local governments, and tribal governments
- www.loc.gov/rr/news/stategov/stategov.html – A resource page maintained by the Library of Congress of state and local governments.
