According to a recent Pew survey on the public’s feelings about data and open government, only 23 percent of Americans trust the federal government to do the right thing “at least most of the time.” To borrow author Chris Cillizza’s reaction to the news:
“Twenty three percent! That's unpopularity-of-Congress territory. Journalist-trust territory! Donald Trump's approval ratings look down on those numbers!”
Not surprisingly, a somewhat higher percentage of Americans trust their state and local governments -- 33% trust their state government and 41.5% trust their local government to do the right thing all or most of the time.
State and local governments are closer to the people they serve and, thus, more accountable. The individuals in a state or city can more easily contact or visit their representatives and officials to voice their concerns or grievances. Unfortunately, D.C. has gradually stripped these governments of their rightful power, turning them into nothing more than regional agencies.
It’s time for a change in the status quo. Washington, D.C., has amassed a huge amount of unconstitutional power and they abuse it at every turn. A package of constitutional amendments -- proposed by an Article V Convention of States and designed to curb the abuses of the federal government -- would go a long way towards restoring the rightful power of state and local governments.
