Corruption Concerns Most Americans
This year’s Public Affairs Pulse survey examines many topics of interest to the American public, as well as those who follow political and business issues. They include a close look at the creatures and behaviors found in the so-called Washington, D.C., “swamp,” the influence of President Trump’s tweets and his administration’s impact on U.S. companies. The poll of 2,200 Americans, conducted in August by Morning Consult, also explored the most trusted sources of political news; sector-specific support for new regulations; and America’s economic, foreign policy and values influence in the world.
Polls have consistently shown that Americans view unethical behavior in Washington, D.C., as one of the country’s biggest problems.
But what exactly are people outraged about? Of 10 distinct behaviors tested, the number-one concern is politicians too worried about getting re-elected, followed by politicians benefiting themselves financially, intense partisanship and politicians spending too much time raising money for their re-elections. In 2018 the Public Affairs Pulse survey was the first poll to study the impact of Trump’s critical tweets. The results showed that only a small percentage of those who read these tweets viewed a company or person more negatively after hearing his assessment of them.
What’s more, Trump’s tweet attacks seemed to have a reverse effect on some people. Our updated analysis validates these conclusions. Once upon a time, the news media was the most trusted source of political news and information — but not anymore. Over the past 12 months, attitudes about the American news media, particularly among Republicans, have become increasingly negative. More than 50 percent of the public don’t trust the political news they receive from the media. Our examination of America’s economic, foreign policy and values influence in the world also paints a disturbing picture. In all three areas, the public believes the nation’s influence is falling. And finally, while many Americans don’t trust big corporations or the CEOs who run them, they are more likely to believe Trump’s actions have had a negative impact than positive impact on American companies.
If Washington, D.C., is “The Swamp,” what exactly is swampy about it and who is to blame? According to the 2019 Public Affairs Pulse survey, politicians account for the four most serious problems with politics in the nation’s capital. When asked to rate factors contributing to ill will in Washington, Americans most often pointed to elected officials being more concerned about getting re-elected than with making good decisions. Seventy-two percent called this a major problem. Next in line were politicians using their power and influence to make money for themselves or family members while in office (69 percent), intense partisanship (68 percent) and politicians spending too much time raising cash for their re-elections (62 percent). It turns out that bipartisanship still exists. Democrats and Republicans were almost equally concerned about politicians who don’t make the best decisions because they are worried about getting re-elected. Seventy-five percent of Democrats and 72 percent of Republicans consider this a major problem. Concern about corruption — politicians using their power and influence to make money — was also bipartisan: 73 percent of Democrats and 67 percent of Republicans called it a major problem.
Other factors considered negative were the news media’s focus on less important issues (58 percent), politicians using their connections to get high-paying jobs after they leave office (54 percent), super PACs (52 percent) and too many people and groups lobbying to defend their interests or causes (50 percent). Not every issue crossed the 50 percent threshold for being considered a major problem. Forty-eight percent of the public were especially troubled that “good people don’t want to go into politics.” Of the 10 factors rated, the one considered least problematic was the use of PACs by companies, nonprofits and unions to support candidates. Only 39 percent called PACs a major problem.
In a separate question, respondents were asked whether they found specific types of corporate lobbying to be acceptable.
While lobbying in general is often controversial, companies that articulate why they are lobbying meet with the public’s approval — especially if their goal is to protect jobs (62 percent), create a level playing field with competitors (54 percent) or support social causes (53 percent). Only small percentages of respondents said these forms of advocacy were not acceptable. Options for Funding Political Campaigns Seven out of 10 Americans are supportive of self-funded campaigns or political dollars raised from individual citizens. The next most acceptable form of campaign funding is political action committees (PACs), which are favored by 51 percent of Americans and opposed by only 22 percent. Due to strong support from men and younger voters, favorability of super PACs rose from 37 percent in 2018 to 46 percent this year. At the bottom of the list of options was using federal tax dollars to fund campaigns, a position supported by only 31 percent of Americans and opposed by 51 percent.
The news media is rapidly losing the public’s trust as a source of news and information about politics. Only 39 percent consider it trustworthy, compared with 50 percent who said they trust the media “not too much” or none. Last year 46 percent said it was a trustworthy source of political news and information and only 43 percent disagreed. The differences in opinion among Republicans, Democrats and Independents are striking. Democrats still generally trust the news media, with 58 percent saying they trust it at least somewhat and only 32 percent saying they have little or no trust. Just 23 percent of Republicans, however, have at least some trust in the news media and 69 percent have little or no trust. Independents also tend to be negative about the press, with 33 percent having some trust and 50 percent having little or no trust.
Many Rely on ‘Friends and Family’ for Political News
As in 2018, the most trusted source for political news and information was friends and family, with 67 percent saying they trusted this source “some” or “a lot.” Next in line was trade and professional associations with a trust score of 40 percent. In third place was the news media (39 percent), followed by businesses (37 percent), the Democratic Party (36 percent), conservative groups (33 percent), the Republican Party (32 percent), liberal groups (27 percent), social media (27 percent), candidate political campaigns (22 percent) and super PACs (12 percent). Trust in social media declined four percentage points since 2018. Age correlates closely with rising distrust in social media — but even 18-29-year-olds are skeptical of social media as a source of political news and information. While one-third (34 percent) of this age group had “some” or “a lot” of trust in social media, 49 percent had “not too much” or “none.” Though trust scores for the Republican Party (32 percent) and conservative groups (33 percent) are almost identical, the Democratic Party (36 percent) scores markedly higher than liberal groups (27 percent). In fact, only one-third of Democrats said they trust liberal groups as a source of political news and information.
America Facing Loss of Global Influence
While many Americans believe the U.S. government has global influence through its economic policies, foreign policies and promotion of values, that influence appears to be waning. Not surprisingly, Trump supporters believe the nation’s influence in each of these areas is increasing while Trump opponents feel otherwise. Overall, 38 percent say the government still has a great deal of economic influence on a global scale, but 35% believe that influence is decreasing and only 27 percent say it is increasing. Similarly, 31% state that the U.S. has a great deal of influence in promoting its foreign policy, but 34 percent believe it is decreasing. Just 26 percent say it is increasing. Twenty-eight percent say the U.S. government has a great deal of influence promoting values such as freedom and democracy abroad, but far more people believe that influence is on the decline (36 percent) rather than on the rise (22 percent).
Favorability of major companies rose slightly from 46 percent in 2018 to 48 percent in 2019, with 38 percent saying they have an unfavorable opinion. Trump supporters gave major companies higher scores (59 percent favorability) than did Trump opponents (41 percent). Small business favorability continues to be high (85 percent) while non-favorability is only 5 percent. Industry sectors considered least trustworthy include pharmaceuticals (60 percent), health insurance (53 percent), banks (37 percent), energy (34 percent) and technology (27 percent). Distrust of pharmaceutical firms is greatest among older Americans, with 74 percent of those age 65 and older saying drug companies are less trustworthy than other companies. There is also a correlation between age and distrust of technology firms. As recently as 2017, technology was tied for the most trustworthy of the nine sectors rated and only 18 percent of the public thought it was less trustworthy than average. This year food and beverage companies received the top score for trustworthiness.
