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For Immediate Release June 13, 2001
Contact: Cristi Allen
callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 817-640-6166
Surprising Number of Americans Say They Have No Trust In U.S. Government,
Government Agencies, Survey Shows
ARLINGTON, Texas – More Americans totally lack trust in many government
agencies than totally trust them, according to a recent nationwide survey of
more than 3,200 adults by Decision Analyst, Inc., a leading opinion and
marketing research firm.
In the firm’s April survey, taken before the FBI admitted it had not
disclosed all its investigative reports relating to the Oklahoma City bombing,
one in seven respondents said they had no trust at all in the federal
government. The question was: “How much trust do you have in each of the
following?” Listed after the question were “federal government,”
“state government” and “city government,” as well as
various governmental agencies.
Respondents had the opportunity to check “a lot of trust,” “some
trust,” “little trust,” and “no trust.” Most responses
landed in the middle (some trust or little trust).
“The concern comes in the surprising number that displayed a total lack of
trust in most of the governmental bodies listed,” said Garry Upton, senior
vice president of Decision Analyst, Inc. “We saw a surprising imbalance in
the responses recorded at the negative end of the spectrum. As professional
analysts, we know that respondents who strongly approve or disapprove of a
product or group often are led to do something about their beliefs.”
On the subject of the federal government, one in seven Americans totally
distrusts the institution, the survey shows. Only one in 15 totally trusts the
federal government.
State government comparisons were similar, with one in 10 respondents totally
distrusting their state government and only one in 17 totally trusting it.
City government comparisons also reflected discouraging patterns, with one in
nine respondents totally distrusting city officials and only one in 14 totally
trusting their city government.
The FBI fared in a somewhat similar fashion, but did manage to reflect as many
totally trusting the agency as distrusting it – one in nine.
“While not helping government agencies identify ways to become a better
influence in our lives, this data helps explain the difficult time government
officials have in enlisting constituent support to move in any direction that
would expand our success as a nation,” Upton said. “The data also
helps explain why a tragedy of such immense proportion as the Oklahoma City
bombing happened, and could happen again.”
Decision Analyst’s Internet survey of 3,200 adults has a margin of error of
plus or minus one percent.
For nearly 25 years, Decision Analyst, Inc. has provided opinion and marketing
research services to Fortune 500 companies as well as a cross-section of other
businesses, organizations and agencies. The company is a world leader in
Internet marketing research. Along with its industry-specific online opinion
panels, Decision Analyst operates a global public opinion panel with nearly 3
million participants.
For additional information contact:
Cristi Allen
Publicity
Email: callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 1.800.ANALYSIS (262.5974)
Address: 604 Avenue H East
Arlington, TX 76011
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