¶ … Government and trust [...] recent headlines and five causes for the public not to trust government, and five causes for the public to trust government. In today's volatile political world, it is hard to know who to trust and who not to trust. However, the media often reports items with their own "spin," making it even harder to know who to trust and who not to trust. With recent headlines in mind, here are the five reasons for the public not to trust government, and five reasons they should trust government.
Do Not Trust the Government
Lobbyists - While several administrations have decried the great influence lobbyists have on Washington, none of them have come up with any ways to curb this influence. Voters cannot expect their legislators and administration to do what is right for them when they take enormous amounts of money from lobbyists and their Political Action Campaigns (PACs). The people's will can never be served by politicians who owe their elections to lobbyists and PACs, and that is one big reason not to trust government overall.
The Political Parties - There is so much backbiting, fighting, and hatred between both poles of the parties that government comes in second. Republicans fight anything the Democrats try to do, and vice versa. There is no longer working together in government, it is just a battle between the parties, with neither one actually accomplishing anything worthwhile. The health care bill was cited as an example of non-partisanship, but in reality, it is a watered down pathetic attempt at fixing an incredibly complex problem. As long as the parties continue to battle, the American people suffer, and that is another reason not to trust the government. It is not about us, it is all about them and their political aspirations.
Do Not Keep Their Promises - Even in the best of administrations, they make promises they cannot keep. George H.W. Bush said "no new taxes," and then raised taxes. Barack Obama said he would close Guantanamo Bay, and has not done it, and sent more troops to Afghanistan. They should stop making promises they cannot keep, another reason not to trust government.
They can Manipulate the "Truth" - There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, enough said.
They Have Their own Agendas - The governments of North Korea and China show what happens when governments get too much power over the people. Anything or anyone that has that much power is not to be trusted. They serve their own agendas rather than the agendas that are best for the people, and for that reason, they are untrustworthy and often corrupt, as well.
Trust the Government
Social Security - Social security may have funding issues, but it is a good practice for aging Americans. It was never meant to be the only source of retirement income, but it allows most aging Americans to grow old with dignity, something that many other countries do not enjoy. Social security is not perfect by any means, but as a program, it has good intentions, and that is one reason to trust our government to do what is right and proper for senior citizens. Many of them have served our country in many ways, and social security means they can be comfortable as they grow older.
Do the Right Thing - In many areas of government, historically they have chosen to do the right thing. Finally giving women the vote was the right thing to do, even if it took too long. Passing civil rights legislation was the right thing to do, even though it took too long, as well. Ending slavery was the right thing to do, well, you get the idea. It may take the government time to do the right thing, but it most cases, especially with really big issues, they end up doing the right thing, and that is an important reason to trust the government.
On the Local Level - While there can be corruption and influence at every level of government in our country, for the most part, local politicians seem to want to do what is best for their area. Many actually run for office in the desire to make real change and progress in their communities, and they want to do what is right for their constituents. While this may seem naive, it seems that many politicians start out doing well, and are corrupted the longer they hold office or the higher they raise in the government's ranks.
You’re 79% through this paper. Sign up to read the full paper.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.