America Sets Six Record Lows This Year

Just as a business succeeds or fails on the basis of trust by its customers, it can also be said that a nation succeeds, over the long term, through the trust and confidence of its citizens. There are now ample warning signs that America is dangerously heading in the wrong direction.
As income and wealth inequality in the United States have set records, Americans’ are acknowledging their awareness that this could not have happened without the willful participation of key institutions and leaders.
Historic record lows were set at various times this year in polls measuring Americans’ trust in Congress, approval of President Obama, confidence in the Supreme Court, faith in media, and the popularity of the Democratic party – the party commonly seen to care about leveling the playing field for the little guy. This alarming level of cynicism on the part of citizens can have wide-ranging impacts on everything from consumer spending to worker productivity to volunteerism and voter turnout. In essence, it has a shriveling effect on participatory democracy and the economic well being of the nation.

This post was published at Wall Street On Parade on December 11, 2014.