About half of American adults think democracy works "very" or "moderately" poorly in the United States, while only about a quarter think it works "very" or "moderately" well, according to a new survey cited by the Associated Press, News.bg reports.
That's a stark contrast to previous decades, when the majority thought democracy was generally working as it should.
According to a joint survey by the „Kettering“ Foundation and „Gallup“ About two-thirds of Americans "strongly agree" or "agree" that democracy is the best form of government. Very few disagree, and about one-third have no opinion.
Along with widespread disillusionment with the way democracy works, few believe that the country's leaders are committed to governing democratically or believe that government decisions reflect the will of the people.
The percentage of citizens who doubt their fellow citizens' support for a strong democracy is low. But the percentage of people who think the same is true of American political leadership is also low. More than 4 in 10 Americans do not believe their leaders are committed to building a strong democracy, while about 3 in 10 say they are not sure.
Meanwhile, only about a quarter believe that government decisions reflect what the majority of people want to be done or are trying to serve the best interests of citizens.
The poll is part of a project initiated by “Gallup“ and the “Charles F. Kettering“ Foundation, which examines how Americans perceive democracy. The study, the results of which were released today, was conducted in July and August.
It surveyed more than 20,000 American adults. The results come at a tumultuous time in American politics, marked by extreme polarization, rapid social change and deep economic anxiety, as the United States prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence next year.