Public Giving Gov't, Business Lower Marks

News
10/25/2005 15:22:10 EST Public Giving Gov't, Business Lower Marks
By WILL LESTER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The public's view of the government has eroded over the past year and its view of business corporations is now at the lowest level in two decades.
The public's rating for the federal government has fallen from 59 percent favorable last year to 45 percent now, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. The favorable view of business corporations is also at 45 percent.

When dissatisfaction with national conditions is running high "people tend to be critical of institutions such as the government, the Congress, and have rising discontent with business corporations, especially oil companies," said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center. Only 20 percent of people said they have a favorable view of oil companies - down from 32 percent in 2001.

The federal government needs the public's trust to operate and businesses need the goodwill of customers, Kohut said.

The public's view of the Department of Defense has dropped from 76 percent favorable in 1997 to 56 percent during an unpopular war in Iraq. Even the view of the U.S. military has dropped slightly, from 87 percent favorable to 82 percent now.

The political parties have slipped with the public, as well. Republicans are now viewed unfavorably by 49 percent and favorably by 42 percent. Despite the GOP's falling popularity, Democrats have not gained ground and are seen favorably by 49 percent, down slightly from 53 percent last year.

Two institutions that have not slipped with the public are the news media, viewed positively by 52 percent, and the Supreme Court, 62 percent.

The poll of 2,006 adults was taken Oct. 12-24 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, larger for subgroups.

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Pew Research Center: http://www.people-press.org