Trust Bites the Dust

Much has been made recently of the new PewResearchCenter poll showing that only 22% of Americans trust government. Pew says it’s an all time low. This polling was done and re-done and included a broader group of people than usual. Thus, its weight is to be taken more seriously. It’s shocking apparently.

I hate to be a half empty kind of guy, but I’ve been under the impression that trust of institutions died a long time ago. It wouldn’t surprise me if only 2% of Americans trusted government or any other institution. Think about it. What institution inspires trust? Schools? Church? Business (Wall Street or otherwise)? Professional sports? Charitable organizations? Courts? Media? One doesn’t have to think very long or hard to remember a not-so-distant scandal involving each of these institutions — sometimes multiple scandals. How much trust is there in a typical workplace? Because it’s lacking, how many lawsuits or union campaigns result?

Reform is talked about but always seems short-lived. All institutions keep reciting the same slogans, cutting the same corners, saying the same lies are really the truth, cooking (or at least manipulating) the books, even telling employees they’re the most important asset. Wow! I’ve been devoured by cynicism.

What’s different now about the lack of trust factor is that we’re more inclined to just accept it. We live with it. There’s nothing we can do about it. So, we make every effort to navigate all the treacherous waters we encounter in whatever rickity boats we have left. If we don’t get dinged too badly every day, we’re ahead of the game.

Now wait just a minute. Institutional trust may well be dead as a doornail. But we have family, friends, and colleagues we trust with our lives. That means more than anything an institution can give us anyway.