Public Trust in Government: 1958-2010

Big Government and Its Discontents

The findings bolster what we have known since at least last summer — Americans’ tension with government has reemerged. And that picture is best seen with the barometer of modern politics, independents.

Only 18 percent of independents trust government. Half believe the government presents a “major threat” to “personal rights and freedoms.” In 1996, 70 percent of independents said the poor get too little government attention. Little more than half say the same today.

Radly Balko calls the chart The Most Encouraging Thing I’ve Seen in a Week. Yes it is.