We have met the enemy, and he is us. I can’t improve on Walt Kelly, but it should be said because it is true beyond a reasonable doubt that the American people are their own worst enemy when it comes to our politics. This truth hit me like a ton of bricks — or the same way Joe Biden hits a stage after tripping on a sandbag — while reading a recent study by Pew Research Center titled: American's dismal views of the nation's politics. The report reveals a systemic disconnect between the politicians we elect and the political results we seem to get.
But the following stat especially caught my attention. According to the Pew Center report, 65 percent of Americans say they “always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics.” Oh my! Why would that be? Politics is so much fun. At least it is to this political junky. But then again, I also like to stick hot needles in my eyes.
When I was a high school senior, my older brother bought me a subscription to Reason Magazine. And there began my obsession with politics. I can still recall what he wrote on the back of the cardboard that he taped to the cover of Reason’s most recent edition; it said: Dear Manic, because politics isn’t a spectator sport. And for me, it ended up not being.
After college and after going into business, I went on to eventually run for office four times. I won twice, and I lost twice. But I also worked on several Republican campaigns as a volunteer and adviser. For me, politics isn’t a spectator sport; it ended up being my vocation.
Still, for many, indeed for most Americans, politics is a spectator sport. And not local politics but national politics. That same brother, who reads everything he can get his hands on when it comes to national politics, couldn’t tell you who serves on his local city council, local school board, the county board of supervisors and almost certainly couldn’t name his state assemblyman or state senator. I'm not picking on my brother; I'm simply making a point.
I’ve written about this before. When it comes to the issues that matter, that actually impact our daily lives, such as how many local police there are on the beat, who handles the ambulance service when you press 911 due to a medical emergency, which trash hauler picks up your waste each week, or whether you need to separate your waste, how much square footage you can add on to your existing home, or whether you can evict somebody who doesn’t pay the rent in one of your rental properties, these, and many other issues just as real, are decided by people you’ve likely never heard of.
Conversely, if I were to ask my brother if he knew Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz is considering a run for Governor in 2026, he’d be able to tell me who his likely opponent will be and which one has the upper hand in getting Trump’s endorsement.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s newsworthy who might be the future Governor of Florida, New York, or California; after all, these people often have an inside track to be the next president of the United States. But, for the typical American who follows politics, the amount of time they spend on national politics exceeds the amount of time they spend following local politics by an order of magnitude.
And maybe this is why Americans have the following opinions regarding our nation’s politics. Again, according to the Pew study, just four percent think the political system is working extremely or very well. And by the way, this survey included nearly 14,000 Americans.
Just 16 percent said they trust the federal government always or most of the time. I’m surprised it’s that high. Nearly three in ten expressed unfavorable views of both parties. Uh, can you blame them?
When asked to identify the strengths of our political system, only nine percent of those polled said “freedoms and democratic values” are a strength of the system. Twenty-two percent couldn’t name a single strength. What are we teaching our kids in our public schools, for crying out loud?
The survey also revealed the usual lamentations about partisanship. However, it is American voters who feed the partisanship. How many Democrats will vote for the Republican even when the Democrat has brain damage from a stroke? Or said another way, how many Republicans will vote for the Democrat when the Republican has been caught cheating on their spouse?
One dynamic about local politics is that local offices are typically nonpartisan. Meaning there is no R or D next to their name. Just a title such as incumbent, business owner, retired nurse, teacher, or even “community organizer.” One such community organizer went on to become President of the United States.
By the way, having the title "incumbent" is a huge advantage because, again, most Americans ignore local politics, and if things are fine in their neighborhood or community, why throw the rascals out? Although, to be clear, even in nonpartisan races, partisanship is there for the discerning eye. Just look at who the candidate is being endorsed by, and you’ll know which side of the political aisle they are on.
But Americans also hold negative views about what they perceive as money's influence in politics. Seventy-two percent favor reducing it. Of course, there is too much money in politics. The reason is that there’s too much power being placed in government at every level.
Moreover, the American people have allowed the U.S. Tax Code to become so convoluted and riddled with exemptions and loopholes that the financial incentives for wealthy individuals and corporations to spend billions to manipulate the tax system are too great. When candidates come along promising to simplify or even replace the tax code, these candidates always seem to lose. Talk about a disconnect.
Do you want to reduce the amount of money in politics? Then, elect people who want to reduce taxes or replace the U.S. Tax code with a simpler, flatter, and lower tax collection system. Something that would allow you to fill out your taxes on a postcard. Yes, this means eliminating the exemptions, deductions, and loopholes. It seems simple enough, except when the National Association of Home Builders sends their lobbyists to meet with members of Congress to keep the mortgage deduction by saying it will reduce home ownership. Even though according to the American Economic Association, getting rid of the home mortgage deduction would expand home ownership.
In the February issue of the American Economic Review, researchers Kamila Sommer and Paul Sullivan consider the implications for the US housing market if this $90 billion subsidy to homeowners were to be scrapped. They find that getting rid of it would actually improve overall welfare by lowering home prices and expanding opportunities for home ownership among younger and lower-income households.
This is only one example of Americans' political challenges when aiming to reduce money in politics. There’s just too much money at stake. And the only way to combat this is by electing people committed to cutting taxes, cutting spending, and getting power out of Washington.
But no one in either political party will do that because history shows that, despite Americans' protestations to the contrary, there is no large or organized constituency in the country for reducing government. Even so-called fiscal conservatives in Congress, or even at the local level, have their favorite sacred cows. Social Security is another perfect example.
Study after study shows Social Security and Medicare are going bankrupt on their current trajectory. But any politician with national political aspirations who dares to say they’re willing to consider reforming Social Security to help keep it solvent ends up touching what they call the "third rail of politics."
The Pew Study is worth reading as it touches on several other issues not covered here. Issues worth exploring further.
Interesting poll but two problems. 1) Why ask about 3 branches of government but neglect the 4th? Why not a question about who is really running the system, namely the administrative state? 2) the question about the electoral college is gravely suspect. Hardly any normal person…
— Jeffrey A Tucker (@jeffreyatucker) September 22, 2023
As for its accuracy, any survey that includes nearly 14,000 participants will get close to accurately measuring public opinion. Contrast this to the blizzard of flash polls we see daily on X or other media platforms, where the typical sample size is 600 people or less and with an obvious bias.
📊 2024 Iowa Republican Caucus
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) September 21, 2023
Trump 45% (+1)
DeSantis 15% (-3)
Haley 13% (+3)
Ramaswamy 5% (-2)
Scott 5% (-2)
Christie 5% (+2)
Pence 2% (=)
Burgum 1% (-1)
[Change vs Aug. 28]
• Commissioned by pro-Trump PAC
• @Fabrizio_Lee | 500 LV | 9/17-19https://t.co/XInqhxt7Bj pic.twitter.com/xSfM7rWeIz
No, this survey almost certainly is an accurate temperature of the American body politic. And what it shows is our feverish obsession with political theater at the expense of paying closer attention to the politicians who matter the most to our quality of life has metastasized and is now threatening America’s ability to flourish as a self-governing country.
Indeed, the Pew Research Center's study on Americans' views of the nation's politics reveals a concerning truth: Our obsession with national politics and political theater is overshadowing the importance of local politics and the decisions that truly impact our daily lives. If that is going to change, Americans' attitudes about national and local politics need to change first.
