Printable Version Tell a friend

In Government We Trust

(Arlington County Democratic Committee)

May, 2010 Chair's Column
by Mike Lieberman

The Pew Research Center has just published the results of a survey indicating that public trust in government is at a near record low – 22 percent. It attributed this statistic to a “perfect storm” of conditions – a down economy, an unhappy public, increased partisanship, and a perceived non-responsiveness from Congress and elected officials.

As the party in charge of Congress, it is natural for the media to interpret discontent with Congress as a criticism of Democratic policy. And, indeed, we should recognize such comments for what they are – demands for a government that empathizes, sympathizes and reacts to the real problems we all face each day.

But as I examined the figures in the Pew study, I found myself asking: why do I still have faith in government? I kept coming back to one simple answer – because I believe government used right really can work.

Just look at what this Democratic Congress has accomplished in a short year and a half: reform of our health care system; increased funding for Pell Grants; legislation to guarantee equal pay for women in the workplace; and an economic stimulus bill that invests significant resources in tangible, concrete infrastructure, just to name a few. These accomplishments have real impacts on the real lives of real people.

It struck me, therefore, that perhaps the failure expressed in the Pew survey was not so much a failure of Democratic policy as it was a failure of Democratic marketing. As Democrats, we often forget that to be effective, we not only need to pass responsible policies; we need to talk about the significant impacts these policies have on people’s lives.

This educational responsibility rests not just on our elected officials; but on the rest of us Democrats as well. Everyone in our party has friends and neighbors interested in politics. As Democrats, we should not shy away from political discussions. People want to know details about the policies that affect them and, just as important, they want to know why those details matter to us.

I am proud to be in the 22 percent of people who still believe government can be a source for good, and I believe that real engagement can bring the other 78 percent back to the fold. Call me an optimist, but I still believe trust has its place in politics – and that trust begins with believing in the potential of government to make our lives better, no matter what the surveys tell us.