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In 1958, the National Election Study began surveying Americans about their trust in government, revealing that roughly 75% believe the federal government will get it right almost always or most of the time. But according to the Pew Research Center in 2023, this trust has plummeted to a 70-year low of just 16%.
Shockingly, only 2% of Americans believe their government always acts correctly, and trust in elected officials continues to decline. The main reason for this decline in trust is clear: government leaders are no longer held accountable for their decisions.
Think about whether you’ve heard either candidate admit a mistake during the 100 days leading up to the election. “I made a mistake,” “That was a bad decision,” “I shouldn’t have gone down that path” — statements like these are almost never heard.
In the 100 days leading up to the election, think about whether you’ve heard either candidate admit a mistake on the campaign trail. (Getty Images)
True leadership is hard and often lonely. It requires making difficult decisions and, more importantly, admitting both successes and failures. Unfortunately, our politicians no longer demonstrate this level of integrity, which has contributed greatly to the decline of trust in the federal government. People understand that no one can be right all the time…we are only human.
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This election season, you’re bound to see a lot of blame-pointing on both sides of the political spectrum. Through television soundbites, newspaper columns, and social media, it’s common to see one side blaming the other for current issues like the economy, immigration, crime, abortion, and climate change.
When leaders choose to blame others, they set a precedent that if they are unable to solve the problem themselves, they are justified in blaming others for difficulties or inaction.
True leaders don’t solve problems by shifting the blame; instead, they seek to unite people around a common vision and actionable solutions. When our highest elected officials indulge in blame-shifting, it further erodes public confidence in their ability to get anything meaningful done.
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Restoring trust in government requires addressing the disconnect between what politicians say and what people think. For example, Representative Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., once said, “Anyone who thinks Joe Biden’s age gives them an advantage is dangerous because he’s so smart.” Yet a few months later, she questioned Biden’s ability to run for president and quickly endorsed Kamala Harris after abandoning her reelection campaign.
Similarly, when asked about her plans to visit the border, Harris famously evaded the question by replying, “I haven’t been to Europe yet.” Despite being tasked with tackling illegal immigration, she has refused to acknowledge that not enough is being done.
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Even more notable is that after the 2020 election, President Trump repeatedly called the election a “rigged election.” True leaders accept defeat with grace and work to bounce back, just as athletes often make astonishing comebacks.
With the election approaching, it remains to be seen whether voters will prioritize personalities over policies. Social media has also been a major factor in the loss of trust, with many people turning to smartphones for information. The rapid consumption of news through short audio discs prevents people from getting the full story, greatly affecting people’s perceptions and behavior.
Americans are desperate to restore trust and faith in their leaders, and politicians need to understand that showing vulnerability and admitting mistakes is a sign of strength, not weakness.
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In any leadership role, whether in Corporate America or a family business, making bad choices is inevitable, but leaders who can stick to their vision despite setbacks inspire confidence.
Now is the time for our leaders to rebuild our trust, starting with three simple words: “I was wrong.”
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