Congress Approval Rating Nearing Single Digit

By: Les Carpenter III

Rational Nation USA

Congress has reached it's lowest approval ratings since 1973. Gallup's 2010 Confidence in Institutions survey has Congress ranked at dead last with a 11% approval rating. In other words only a mere 11% of Americans have a a strong feeling of confidence in the institution that is supposed to represent their interests. The poll, taken between July 8th and July 11th, shows a 6% drop in approval since 2009 when it stood at 17%.

Fully 50% of Americans say the have "very little" or no confidence in Congress, up 12% from 2009. In addition confidence in the Presidency has fallen a full 15 percentage points to 36% since June 2009. President Barrack Hussein Obama's ratings have fallen a full 11 percentage points to 47?% during the same period.

These numbers indicate a nation that has reached a level of complete dissatisfaction with it's elected officials. Congress can be trusted to do the right thing about as often as a convention attorneys or used car salesmen. Most Americans would trust a distant cousin with their interests more than they trust Congress.

While the President still enjoys numbers that are not of critical concern, the trending indicates increasing public dissatisfaction with the Presidents policies and the direction he is moving the country in. It is likely these numbers indicate a desire on the part of the American people for a slowing and reevaluation of both the President's policies and direction.

Institutions enjoying a high to relatively high confidence rating:

• Confidence in the military remains high at 76%
• Small businesses enjoy a 66% rating
• Police continue to poll at a 59% confidence level
• Churches and religious organizations enjoy only a 48% rating

Bring up the rear, just ahead of the dismal Congressional rating:

• Banks currently enjoy only a 22% confidence rating
• Organized labor carry s only a 20% rating
• Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO's) a paltry 19%
• Big business is up 3% to 19% (a positive sign)

For more from Gallup's poll go here.

The institutions of law, so critical to the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness are well below the 50% confidence levels. The U.S Supreme Court has only a 36% confidence level of the people, and the criminal justice system enjoys only a mere 27%.

While certainly no expert, these indicators are, IMO, a preview of increasing unrest in our civil society. Unless the people react and turn out during the upcoming mid term elections in numbers approaching 90% + we face a major upheaval in American society.

All the progressive collectivist and neocon hyperbole aside, it is time we Americans personally revisit our founding documents, educate ourselves on the issues, and then cast an independent and reasoned vote for the individual that will effect change. Real change that is rational and based in objective reasoning. This nation and it's people deserve nothing less. For it to happen we must all accept individual responsibility and become active participants in the national discussion of the issues.And we must not let those who would belittle our beliefs and convictions cause us to turn our heads from the battle going on.

2010 provides the nation an opportunity to change direction and hold our representative and senators accountable. So in the name of liberty, the right to self determination, opportunity, and pursuit of happiness, lets seize the moment and change America's course towards the destiny it deserves. 

Cross Posted at Left Coast Rebel.

Via: Memeorandum