Politicians Are Voted the World's Least Trusted People

[buzzsaw_23]

Politicians are voted the world's least trusted people

Brian Whitaker
Thursday September 15, 2005
The Guardian


Most people believe their government does not act according to their wishes, a worldwide opinion survey shows. Lack of confidence in governments is highest in the former Soviet bloc, where 75% say their country is not governed by the will of the people, but similar views are held by most Europeans (64%) and North Americans (60%).

The findings come from one of the largest international polls ever undertaken. Commissioned by the BBC World Service, Gallup interviewed more than 50,000 people in 68 countries, representative of the views of 1.3 billion people worldwide. The main exclusions were China and most of the Middle East, where government restrictions make polling difficult or impossible. Overall, slightly less than half of those surveyed (47%) felt that elections in their country were free and fair. Confidence in elections was highest in Scandinavia (82%) and South Africa (76%), and lowest in West Africa (24%) and the former Soviet Union (25%).

Worldwide, politicians represent the least trusted occupation in the survey, scoring only 13%. Religious leaders are the most trusted (33%), followed by military/police leaders (26%), journalists (26%) and business leaders (19%).

Asked which types of people they would like to give more power to, 35% favoured "intellectuals" (writers and academics), followed by religious leaders on 25%.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1570091,00.html

[cliss]

1. Well, well. (feigns shock)

Who could have guessed such a thing?

Otherwise, interesting poll findings from around the world. Thanks for enlightening me, buzz.

[FlemingsGhost]

2. Religious leaders are the MOST trusted?

That's sad.

[ShockediSay]

3. Like kill for the sake of self-righteousness Pat Robertson n/t

[T_i_B]

4. This needs a kick

All the more so as this is a political board.

As to who else should have power? That's a difficult one. I distrust the idea of giving intellectuals more power (but then again I'm not a fan of Plato and his "philosopher kings" ideas) and I don't think it pays to put too much power into the hands of any one group, be it politicians, military leaders, religious leaders, businessmen or lawyers. As the Nun said when hitting the grinning clairvoyant "you've got to strike a happy medium".

[SKKY]

5. Wow, even less trusted than Pedophiles? That says something.

[Solly Mack]

6. Imagine my surprise

(Ed and his Dead Mother)

[WhiteTara]

7. the difference between statesmen and politicians

Sorry, I couldn't think of the proper term. Would it be statespeople statespersons?

[AspenRose]

8. I like the way Sting puts it

"You could say I've lost my belief in the politicians...they all seem like game show hosts to me."