IN THE PUBLIC WE TRUST

Everyone seems to want to give Mr. Obama advice about how to run his Presidency. Here is another. The folks at Our Public Service. org have created a valuable tool if they follow it up with the same polling in a year, or four. They found, with the release of their latest poll, that the people of the United States do not, in general like the Government of the United States.

Since they are advocating public service, they spin this as an opportunity for President Obama, and it is. It will be interesting to see what he does with his vast store of goodwill and youthful energy. I would argue that the same results probably would be found if the poll were held in Delaware and about Delaware’s Government.

Here are the main findings of a new poll from “The Partnership for Public Service” and the Gallup Organization.

• Americans are paying attention. Prompted by the economic crisis and two wars, Americans are attuned to government and see its connection to their personal lives. Eighty-four percent of Americans claim to be paying close attention to what is happening in government, and 80 percent believe government has an impact on their lives.
• Experiences matter. Direct interactions with government move the needle of public opinion. Those who come into direct contact with the federal government are more likely to view that interaction favorably (32 percent) than unfavorably (18 percent). Additionally, those who have been satisfied with their contacts with federal agencies are three times more likely to give a positive performance rating to the federal government in general than are those who have been dissatisfied with their interactions (41 percent versus 14 percent).
• Technology enhances touch. The Internet is the public’s primary portal into federal government agencies. More than half of Americans have visited the Web site of a federal department or agency, with 38 percent having visited such a Web site in the past six months. Additionally, it’s not just young people driving this figure. In the past six months, sizable percentages across all age groups say they visited a federal Web site.

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