Opinion: July Fourth celebrated in shadow of dissension

The Gallup Poll’s annual update of America’s confidence in institutions, conducted in June, shows an abundance of dissatisfaction among Americans.

No faith in Congress

When a sample of 1,007 adults were asked if they had “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in Congress, only 14 percent said they did. This was the lowest mark any institution has ever received in the poll. President Bush’s rating also is low at 25 percent.

However, in addition to Congress, health maintenance organizations, big business, organized labor, the criminal justice system, newspapers and TV news all ranked below the president. The police and small business were within the 50 percent range.

The military led the way with a confidence evaluation of 69 percent.

It’s good that the police and military are held in higher regard than other institutions.

We would be in trouble if the public lacked faith in them.

It’s also nice to know that many Americans still have confidence in the American small-business entrepreneurial spirit.

Independence Day picnics may not be the place to analyze statistical data; but the opinions leading to record lows in confidence in major American institutions must have been simmering on the back burners of many of this year’s Independence Day celebrants.

When 34 percent of Americans lack confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court and only 46 percent are confident in church/organized religion, things appear to be in a mess.

Although I try to be a “glass is half full” sort of American, I can’t deny that “mess” is a viable description.

Cleaning up messes

Whatever mess we may have, I would rather have America’s mess than other nations’ messes.

At present, America’s inability to secure its borders is a mess, and it’s one that needs to be cleared up.

But it’s a one-way problem. Americans aren’t trying to sneak across the border, but a lot of foreigners want in.

There is a message there.

Listen to Americans who have traveled to other nations. Very few, if any, will say that during their travels they have found a better place to live.

Truth be told, the messes in other places are a lot worse than in America.

I believe the lack of confidence in institutions will eventually improve.

America is the envy of the world because we do so well at cleaning up our messes.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.