United States of Distrust of Government

By Michael Lodge - The Business Advisor - www.lodge-co.com: Across the United States, a growing sentiment of disillusionment and mistrust has taken hold among the American people towards their government. Citizens believe that politicians, once elected, frequently ignore their constituents' voices and pursue self-serving agendas that fail to address the needs of the people.  Politicians ignore their oath of office to protect and defend the constitution. From unchecked government spending to questionable foreign policies and a perception of corruption, a series of grievances has eroded the trust Americans have in their government. This article aims to explore the reasons behind this lack of trust and the urgent need for change to restore faith in the American political system.

Disconnected Politicians:  One of the primary reasons for Americans' waning trust in government is the perception that elected officials no longer prioritize the will of the people. Despite promises made during campaigns, politicians have been accused of disregarding the concerns and demands of their constituents. This disconnect between politicians and the public has left Americans feeling voiceless and disempowered, leading to frustration and a sense of betrayal.

Out-of-Control Spending:  Another major source of frustration is the perception that the government continually engages in reckless spending. Despite public outcry for fiscal responsibility, politicians often ignore these demands, resulting in a ballooning national debt. Americans witness their hard-earned tax dollars being squandered on projects that do not align with their priorities or benefit the nation as a whole. This disregard for responsible financial management further erodes trust in the government's ability to make sound decisions.

After politicians are elected they go to their capitals and forget they have people they are representing, that they should be protecting by abuse of the pocket book.  Instead they follow their political party and they spend on political issues, not what is needed by the American people.  They create more debt and a financial burden on the American people.  Americans do not want more spending, they have seen the damage it has caused during the pandemic and currently on bills passed that were lies to the American people.  Inflation reduction act had nothing to do with inflation.  Debt reduction act had nothing to do with reducing debt.  These bills get passed and then the American people hold the bag for these things to get paid.  These bills do not help the American people.

Questionable Political Agendas:  A significant factor contributing to Americans' mistrust is the perception that politicians prioritize political agendas over the well-being of the American people. Citizens witness policies being pushed forward that seem to serve partisan interests rather than the common good. This divergence between the needs of the people and the actions of their elected officials deepens the skepticism and reinforces the belief that the government is not working in their best interest.

Foreign Policy Concerns:  The involvement of the U.S. government in foreign conflicts, such as the situation in Ukraine, has also strained Americans' trust. When citizens perceive that their government is engaging in activities that do not directly benefit the American people, they question the motives and priorities of their elected representatives. The perception of corruption and the alleged acceptance of bribes by high-ranking officials further contributes to the skepticism surrounding foreign policy decisions.  The country of Ukraine has even corrupted the Biden family, placing the president in a weak compromised position.  We did not have an issue with Russia.  Russia nor Ukraine are on our borders.  Billions of dollars and war machines have been sent to Ukraine with no system in place as to how the money is being spent.  Sending our own weapons and war machines has depleted our own military strength.  Biden said the other day, stupidly, we ran out of bullets.

China is a threat to America and yet we have no strategy to deal with China.  Biden says he knows the leader, has traveled with him several times, and yet the leader of china doesn't even want to talk to the United States.  They see, smell, weakness and they are going to take full advantage of this weakness.  And here we sit today with a threat of war with China.  The Chinese saying is - muddy waters make it easy to catch fish, "-that is, that it's possible to use a crisis or period of chaos for personal benefit.  China has muddied the waters and American leadership is falling for it.  Americans see what is going on.

Protection of Political Elite:  A prevalent sentiment among Americans is that the law protects the political elite while disproportionately targeting ordinary citizens. Instances where politicians seem immune to the consequences of their actions, while everyday Americans face legal repercussions, deepen the feeling of injustice. This perception reinforces the belief that the government operates under a double standard, where the powerful are shielded from the consequences of their wrongdoings.

Growing Social Issues:  The deterioration of safety and security within American cities has only added to the erosion of trust in the government's ability to protect its citizens. Rising violent crime rates in many urban areas have left Americans feeling unsafe and abandoned by their elected officials. The lack of effective responses to these challenges further fuels a sense of frustration and impotence among the populace.

Politicians shout for gun control but never address the issue as to what is going on in these communities.  They turn away from the problem and politically blame guns or other politicians.  Instead of focusing on Ukraine, look at the problem in these communities of violence.  Don't throw money, it never works.  Find the cause and effect of the problems in these communities and then work on them.  Instead of pushing trans rights, focus on the schools that need help, our students have fallen in their education.  Because of the pandemic and lock-down, students are way behind and need help.  

Economic Impact:  The economic consequences of poor policy decisions, such as inflation resulting from weak economic policies, have significantly affected the American people. As they witness the diminishing value of their hard-earned wages and the rising costs of goods and services, Americans rightly question the competence and effectiveness of their leaders. The economic burden placed on the populace further amplifies the demand for change and fuels the growing discontent.

Even with the bragging from Biden on his bidonomics, the economy remains weak.  High prices are still hurting the American family.  Gas prices have started to rise again.  Americans are having a hard time paying for their cars with interest rates so high and car prices are out of control.  The price of cars are no longer affordable to Americans.  Interest rates are too high for purchase a car, especially on used cars.  Car repossession climbs daily, banks are taking back the cars they funded because American's can't afford the high payments.  Then if we look at the commercial real estate market, banks are now calling in their loans for non-payment.  Interest rates have risen so high that the payments grew, and commercial buildings are basically empty with no tenants to pay the mortgage.  This is now hitting the banks and it will make them even weaker.  Owners of commercial real estate are walking away, handing the keys back to the bank.

We can go on and list even more red flags that have been created by bad government.  Congress has members who lie, create chaos, are socialist in belief, who push an agenda harmful to the American family and businesses.  Americans see this, they talk about it at their picnics, they read about it on social media, they express their concerns, and they are not happy with the direction that America is going.  If you remember the reason why America was formed was to get away from a over bearing taxing king.  They came to America and started a new government.  England said no, we want your taxes.  America had taxation without representation.  American's see that happening now, taxation without representation, and it is killing America.  Americans are asking for change, they want their voice to be heard, they want government to stop spending and cut costs (Americans do it every day with their budgets). 

​Where will this mistrust of government lead us?  America has revolted before, will they do it again?  How close are we to that boiling point?  That is the questions on American's minds.