Do you trust your government?

[iamphoenixfire]

If I forgot anything, please tell me and I'll edit it.

Also, feel free to add your opinions and what not.

edit: added to include paranoid

[Phaetion]

While I put in my answers to the poll, I don't trust any government at all, even the most successful one. The reason being is that I tend to have a serious antagonism towards society/civilization (and most humans by extension). I admit it's unhealthy but I can no longer trust most humans due to the cruelties they had done to this planet. Sure, I have no issues with some forms of technology but others...not so much (putting it lightly). I'd sooner live out in the wilderness than live in a place that I know is not to my liking.

...then again, my ideals are far too utopian for most people.

[oreiayean]

You forgot the "PARANOID" option... especially with the country below Canada but above Mexico's spying program.

*Before anyone says, "or you don't answer", please understand... I'm the moron that will push the big red button that would be completely catastrophic*

[Zerο]

I trust it in a practical sense. Do I worry it might go full on genocidal or draconian? Nope. Do I expect it to personally care about me? Nope. Do I have faith in it maintaining a good standard of living for the masses? Yep. Similarly, I hold no loyalty towards it (or any other) either. We just happen to have similar goals for now.

Funny enough, I work for the federal government.

[Blomdor]

No.

I want them to wear the logos of their corporate sponsors on their suits and possibly rename themselves as "The Legion of Incompetent Doom". By them, I mean the majority of members from the only parties generally allowed to win both major parties.

I still wouldn't trust them, but they would be marginally more honest.

I believe congressional approval ratings in the US are at around 5% or something like that. Frankly, I wonder who are those few who do trust them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/09/congress-approval-rating_n_4069899.html

(Yeah, Zero, I hear you on that. I want people TO vote. A dishearteningly huge number do not bother, last I checked. It is a pipe dream of mine that one day there will be some kind of mass awakening and a great many former non-voters will suddenly vote third party or independent, shake things up a little. Still...I find Congress's approval rating to be somewhat amazing, given that they are elected officials. Gonna go look at voting numbers...)

(Wikipedia says the voter turnout for the 2008 Presidential election was 64%. Amazing. Stupendous. That's the PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 36% of the voters in this country won't even get out for THAT. Now I wonder what the Congressional election voting numbers are like. Yes, this helps explain things, doesn't it?)

(2012 Presidential election: 58.2%.)

[Grumpy Alien]

Yes (on most things) / North America / It's eh (some things are awful, some things are great, but mostly they're eh)

[Asha]

I tried to do this, but it wouldn't work, so I'll put my answers here:

Do I trust my gov't? No.

If no, which part of the world am I from? Australia.

What is your opinion of the U.S gov't? Corrupt.

[Zerο]

No.

I want them to wear the logos of their corporate sponsors on their suits and possibly rename themselves as "The Legion of Incompetent Doom". By them, I mean the majority of members from the only parties generally allowed to win both major parties.

I still wouldn't trust them, but they would be marginally more honest.

I believe congressional approval ratings in the US are at around 5% or something like that. Frankly, I wonder who are those few who do trust them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/09/congress-approval-rating_n_4069899.html

These are all elected officials. If people are dumb enough to fall for their lies and diversionary tactics and re-elect someone just based on a familiar name, that's on the voters. Besides, many voters do so based on social issues, and they're getting exactly what they asked for in that regard.

Now if you're suggestion that a good number of voters are ill equipped and generally lacking in the privilege to vote, I agree.

[alpacaterpillar]

I don't know enough so I put "not sure" (too many opinions and not enough facts in politics if you ask me), but I'm highly distrusting of bereaucracy in general and I'm fairly sure most/all government today is at least somewhat corrupt. What I hear in the media suggests the USA government is an absolute joke.

I think a lot of it comes down to basically what's in the Bertrand Russell quote in my signature.

[Asha]

I might add, that I have access to a lot of subversive information that most people don't have, so I know a bit more about what's going down, with the U.S gov't in particular.

[Zerο]

I might add, that I have access to a lot of subversive information that most people don't have, so I know a bit more about what's going down, with the U.S gov't in particular.

Ditto.

["""]

Im very happy where I live :)

[iamphoenixfire]

I might add, that I have access to a lot of subversive information that most people don't have, so I know a bit more about what's going down, with the U.S gov't in particular.

Ditto.

I suppose the both of you probably know a lot then, which is good. It's nice seeing all these different opinions through here, from people like you two to people who don't trust it at all to people who (Like me) and kind of somewhere in the middle.

[Touchofinsight]

The following post is coming from the American mindset of an American Citizen. I am 27 years old and a student of history among other things because... well knowledge is power... but more importantly its just fun. However the nature of this post is a rant and I don't do "Too long didn't read".

The problem I have with most people when they say they mistrust the government.. is they often treat it like some external figure/entity that they have no part in... They point the finger everywhere and anywhere else except at themselves... and before I jump on the high horse.. I realize I have been part of that problem.

Problem is... we all are responsible. The government indeed is made of elected officials and they do bear a share of the responsiblity... but the people who are there to keep those officials in check... are us: the general population... voting just isn't enough.. and a large portion of people don't even do that and I can understand the political apathy that many experience. If you want to change something.... you have to take the initiative.. its more then just filling in a bubble on a ballot form.... its outreaching to like minded people and creating a community of people with a similar vision or goal. However the problem for most is... this takes money, time, and energy... and LOTS of it and most people just don't have the willpower and dedication to add that upon their regular every day life. They still have to go to work, raise a family, run errands, go to school etc.

So when something outrages someone.... they go to their twitter, face book, instagram, tumblr, or other social media account and vent there for 20 minutes and forget it ever happened or that it will happen in the future... because you have two choices in America...

Adapt or attempt to create change.... and most people just adapt.. and who can blame them... you only live once... and there is no guarantee for success.. that is why Leaders.. true successful great leaders, are so rare... and the few of those leaders who have tried to promote peace, understanding, and equality have been killed, assassinated, ignored, or finally just died hopefully leaving the movement to others...

John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, John Lenon (in his own way) and countless other people who will remain nameless in the annexes of history. (obviously not all of these people are American, but they reflect the attributes of great peace loving leaders and activists).

So if you ask me.... Do I trust the government... Do I trust most people.... My answer is... No...

I have been watching the culture rot for years now.

I see how my culture values entertainment over everything else: education, healthcare, poverty, the sanitation of the english language (political correctness run unchecked), the dwindling liberties guaranteed in the constitution, and more to come. I see hysterical hyper-emotional reactions bring about radical changes or consequences without a logical sound basis of reasoned inquiry because... "we have to do something!" even.. if it doesn't solve, help, or address the original issue.

However this isn't anything new.. all great countries/empires fall.. Its the natural order of human history but its not happening over night, its a slow process and there is always the chance that things could/will turn around but I am not about to bet on it.

Britain, Greece, Rome, Ottoman Empire, Persian Empire, The Han dynasty, The French, etc etc.

All these great empires failed and fell, some exist today shadows of their former selves.. but what they all had in common was that the culture within them rotted first.

Just my ranty two cents

Best of luck to you all

Touch!

[Notte stellata]

I trust it in a practical sense. Do I worry it might go full on genocidal or draconian? Nope. Do I expect it to personally care about me? Nope. Do I have faith in it maintaining a good standard of living for the masses? Yep.

Yeah, that's basically how I feel about the US government. I also have faith that I won't be arrested or persecuted for voicing my opinions, signing a petition, or attending a protest in the US, which could easily happen in my home country. I don't think the US government is fantastic, but at least I feel safe and believe I can live with dignity here.

But I assumed the poll asked if I trust the government of my home country, so my answer was a resounding "hell no".

[Kitty Spoon Train]

I don't really "trust" my government as much as I think it's awesome that it's accountable. Screw up enough, and you get voted out. And I know from experience that this is what makes the real difference. The nitty gritty of ideology is far less important.

As for the US government: From over here it looks to me like it's becoming more of a Military-Corporate junta than a real democracy these days. At least in comparison to most other Western countries. The level of democracy in the US seems more like the level of democracy in Turkey than like in a typical Western country. ie Same problems with wealth buying power, same problems with organised religion interfering in politics, same problems with a questionable relationship between industrial interests and the military, etc.

I could go on and on here, but it would probably get the thread hotboxed. :P

[Sally]

I might add, that I have access to a lot of subversive information that most people don't have, so I know a bit more about what's going down, with the U.S gov't in particular.

Ditto.

It's not difficult to access that subversive information. There's a TV channel -- Free Speech TV/Link TV -- that is full of it, and if you read things with a critical eye, you'll find it also.

[wasd]

Canadian here, of the far-left socialist variety, and I don't trust Stephen Harper's Conservative government one iota. This country is regressing under his leadership.

Fellow Canadian and a democratic socialist. I agree compleatly sadly I live in Alberta so my vote counts for nothing since the conservatives win all the time since they are pro environmental distruction.

[Guest]

No; European (Italian); Awful and corrupt.

Sweet mix! No wonder the government is the main reason why I want to move out.

[SquirrelCat]

I have severe trust issues with humanity at large. I was pretty much raised a misanthrope.

However when it concerns my government I trust them to come up with short term solutions to long term complicated problems and then hand the problems over to the next government. I trust them to ignore problems in favour of party gain. I trust them to avoid issues. I trust them to act like six year olds in a sandbox. I trust them to not give shit about the rural and thinly populated areas. I trust them to cut disability and benefits to the elderly and the sick (Our PM deserves the Nobel prize in medicine for discovering that no illness will last longer than a year.) I trust them to blame the opposition when they can't find a solution to an issue. I trust them to favour the rich.

So I guess that's a no.

But we do have a few common goals: they wish to uphold health care and so do I. They wish to increase funding to education so as to get the grades up, which I find great. They want to increase public transport.

But it's still a no as far as trust go. Because even though they want to do a bunch of things I doubt they'll do them.

Europe.

As for the American government. Since I don't live in America and don't feel entirely comfortable having an opinion about another country's government, I find this question to be a can of worms. But since American politics affect the rest of the world I will say this: Some is awful and some is good. ...And some appear a touch paranoid, and every once in a while you run into a person who come across as little corrupt (fortunately those individuals seem to hold very little actual power.)

[WhenSummersGone]

I don't know if I should trust the Canadian government or not, so I'm unsure. I don't know about the United States, I feel they are behind on some things, but I was glad Obama got re-elected, rather than Romney.

Talking to me about politics and stuff like that is like talking to a wall. I don't understand much of it and I'm pretty stupid about it.

I would like to move to Los Angeles one day though. Better weather, entertainment and I want to be near a beach. I can't stand the cold in Canada anymore.

[bluejeanjirl]

Do I trust my government? HELL NO!!!! and please do not call them "mine". I did not choose these crazy, paranoid, manipulative bastards.

[Zerο]

Canadian here, of the far-left socialist variety, and I don't trust Stephen Harper's Conservative government one iota. This country is regressing under his leadership.

Fellow Canadian and a democratic socialist. I agree compleatly sadly I live in Alberta so my vote counts for nothing since the conservatives win all the time since they are pro environmental distruction.

Fuck your government and the Keystone pipeline. -_-

[Lambda Corvus]

I am a Canadian first and an American last. I do not trust the Stephen Harper government, as it has succeeded in destroying much of what made Canada great. Granted, we are still in better shape than the U.S., though Stephen Harper's entire political promise seems to be "make Canada into a northern 'Murca". As an American ... I am ashamed. Unfortunately, I did not choose to have an American citizenship. The first chance I get, I will be renouncing that particular citizenship. I don't like the politics, I don't like the government's attitude or approach to international relations, I don't like the uncaring nature of the populace, and I don't care to further associate with that particular nation. I do not trust the government or the nation.

[trumpetchick]

Do I trust my government? Of course I don't. What good reason would I have to do so?

[wasd]

Canadian here, of the far-left socialist variety, and I don't trust Stephen Harper's Conservative government one iota. This country is regressing under his leadership.

Fellow Canadian and a democratic socialist. I agree compleatly sadly I live in Alberta so my vote counts for nothing since the conservatives win all the time since they are pro environmental distruction.

Fuck your government and the Keystone pipeline. -_-

Oh I know in alberta we also have our provincial government to hate since they are just little Harper.

[5_♦♣]

I trust the government to screw up (especially the provincial government as they turned Ontario from a have to a have not province)... But I'm guessing that's not what you meant.

[Guest member25959]

I live in Europe, and I don't trust my government... they're all corrupt bastards, they don't care about their people, I refuse to associate with that pathetic elitist mess they call a "government". As for the US government, I don't really know how the system works over there so I can't really say if it's corrupt or not (hint: most governments are corrupt, but most governments are better at hiding it from the media), but I'd take the US government over this

[shockkkk]

North American (Canada) here. Really depends on what you mean by "trust your government". I don't trust the government in the sense that I think they'll put getting elected or getting more votes ahead of implementing good policy. At the same time, I don't think any of the major parties (Conservative, Liberal, NDP - the ones that actually have a shot of winning) are going to run the country into the ground like some of the nutters would have you believe. Also I know I'm in the minority on AVEN about this, but I don't mind the Harper government. I'm not super ecstatic about it, but at the end of the day it will go down as a rather average regime. Then again, I also voted conservative in Canada 2012 and Alberta 2013

[Skycaptain]

We have enough trouble in the UK, so I don't follow US politics, sorry