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Public trust in government is near an all-time low. That according to the latest numbers from the Pew Research Center, finding just 22 percent of Americans trust elected officials in Washington.
We have perspectives from KCRA, USA Today, CNN and The American Prospect.
The study blames public distrust on the economy, partisan politics and discontent with Congress.
Sacramento's KCRA focuses on the report's implications on President Obama and the Democratic majority in Washington.
"President Obama himself his latest approval rating at an all-time low. ... Now we've been seeing this in Tea Party rallies going on in Northern California and across the state. ... With elections coming up in June and November, Democrats could have a tough time holding on to their seats."
But USA Today says it's not just Democrats who need to be worried.
"Not that Republicans can rest easy. The public is down on both parties... And activists in the Tea Party movement may want their own candidates, not those nominated by the GOP."
Speaking with a Pew Center representative, CNN's Ali Velshi makes a unique comparison.
VELSHI: "It almost sounds like a caveman mentality. I don't want anything out there that's organized, I want to gather my own, grow my own vegetables, and you know, take care of my own family and myself."
DIMOCK: "Well I don't know if I'd say quite caveman, but I do think it does reflect the stress people are under right now and their doubts about institutions' ability to deal with these problems."
The study also found a whopping 56 percent of Americans indicated they were frustrated with government and another 21 percent said they were angry.
The American Prospect suggests there might be underlying social reasons for the growing discontent of the anti-government class.
"Conservatives have done such a spectacular job of romanticizing the white working class... Instead they insist on portraying the government as an entity solely interested in taking their hard-earned money and redistributing it to the stereotype, to inner-city people of color, who don't work and just get handouts from a sympathetic government."
But we want to know what YOU think. Has your level of trust in government gone up, down or stayed the same? Leave us your thoughts in our comments section.
Writer: Newsy Staff
Producer: Newsy Staff
