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Americans Losing Trust in the Government?

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    Public Affairs Council President Doug Pinkham on a new survey showing a decline the public’s trust in government and big business.

  • Duration 4:36
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Nearly three in five Americans say they have very little or no stress -- the federal government to solve the nation's problems.

I want -- know with the two people are that actually have faith in the government quite frankly.

But according to a new survey they think business -- should play a bigger role when it comes to fixing health care education and unemployment.

Here with more doesn't think -- president of the public affairs council -- another was a survey out.

Lots of things surprise me about this survey one of them in particular was that.

Your respondents.

-- favoured small businesses over big businesses 80% favor small over big Y.

Well first -- I don't think that should be a huge surprise I think Americans have had a love affair with small business -- -- very very long time.

That's why you know politicians always will talk about main street and support for small business.

They won't say vote for me and I'll support big corporations.

I people I think in this country there's a certain natural sense of identifying with the underdog.

What's more the small player against the big company.

In that survey though people also thing that small business owners are more ethical then business owners well.

I would think small business guys wanna be the big guys some -- to do they lose -- ethics along the way.

Let's try admits it's a survey about impressions and basically what we did this this national polls as a second year we've done this -- a very large sample of Americans of all different political persuasions.

On and we found that over half felt that the level of ethics and honesty among small business owners was very high.

But only 8% felt that the ethics and honesty of a of a corporate CEO was high and only 6% felt that about a public official.

It's so interesting because again the -- -- wants to get a little got.

I know there's some negative connotations with big companies these days and yet the younger generations actually think that companies are really favorable still.

Yeah is not a surprise that I was surprised when I saw that -- as well we'll first all the good news for big companies and there is some bad news but I'll get to that in -- minute the good news is that two out of three Americans.

Had at least -- generally favorable view.

Toward big companies.

And I mean I did not expect that high a number -- when you watch movies you watch TV shows.

Generally if there's a CEO they're probably the villain right and of course like the story just did you talk about corporate scandals.

That it becomes a narrative that the public is really -- two unfortunately over all these years.

And so that's that it was a bit surprised that actually big businesses scored as well as well as they did on what was even more of a surprises when you break it down by age group.

I would have assumed that young people would be more anti business than their parents.

Now I would baby boomer when I was young I was more anti business -- my parents.

I'm but now what we found is among -- -- -- you know those sort of age 35 to 47.

70% had a favorable view toward big companies.

And among gen -- this is the kids eighteen to.

Not so much kids -- 35.

68%.

More favorable views and their parents or their grandparents.

I wondered the same -- so I did a focus group of my son not to scientific point three.

And I said what's up with this and he said what would be the point of -- big companies I mean their individual companies I hate their individual companies -- really like.

But I mean might need a job at a -- company someday so I don't see any logic in this and what that taught me and I think this is true across the board.

We have a very pragmatic.

Gen Y young generation that are worried about employment.

That area they just sit their discerning between companies -- -- was -- companies think he was bad.

Good for them -- Smart kid and you hand.

OK and that this -- cracks me up to two thirds of the public.

Think favorably of -- 41%.

Think favorably of the government.

I always question the other side who more than 60% and what are they doing but 40%.

Favorably of the government this is laughable -- -- a lot of people to niece still that -- favorably of the government and yet.

Most of them get reelected so.

Who's voting here I mean we take these polls we don't appreciate the government and yet we reelect -- -- Well it's -- -- ever seen the polls where they say you know we him do you wanna cut the federal deficit everyone says heck yes we -- cut the federal deficit right and then they say what things from the federal budget should should be untouchable what are we not -- -- cut.

And you what the number one item is.

Education.

Is that -- time and then it goes down to defense and various social services and it's a really long list.

And if all those things were in fact untouchable it would be possible to cut the federal budget so we're in a situation where people.

I feel that the -- government needs to tighten its belt but if you get specific they're not so sure.

Right -- set on not in my backyard thinking couple -- subsystem cut mine.

-- income -- survey public affairs council thank you sir.