84% of Americans think that most (29%) or many (55%) of the people running the government are corrupt, according to the latest Economist / YouGov Poll. Only 14% think only a few are corrupt, and 2% say almost none.
More Americans see corruption as common at higher levels of government than at lower ones. 75% think most or many elected officials such as U.S. senators and representatives are corrupt, and 67% say the same about top officials such as cabinet officers or department heads. About half (52%) say the same about judges, and 39% about the mid- and low-level employees who work in government agencies.
Independents are more likely than Democrats and Republicans to say that many or most judges and elected officials are corrupt. Republicans are significantly less likely than Democrats or Independents to say that corruption is common among top officials such as Cabinet officers or department heads.
Americans are somewhat more likely to think there is more corruption among Republicans than among Democrats (30% vs. 22%). 37% think there is about the same amount of corruption in each party. Unsurprisingly, most Democrats and Republicans see corruption as more common within the other party: 67% of Democrats say Republicans are more corrupt and 56% of Republicans say Democrats are. Half (52%) of Independents say there is about the same amount of corruption in both parties. But among Independents who do choose a party, more than three times as many say Republicans are more corrupt than say Democrats are: 22% of all Independents say Republicans and 9% say Democrats.
Independents also are more likely than Democrats or Republicans to raise corruption as a problem even when asked a question that doesn't mention it. The survey asked respondents to tell us in their own words what the most important problem facing the U.S. today is. With the help of an AI tool to analyze responses, we find that Independents name corruption and waste about twice as often as either Democrats or Republicans do (10% vs. 6% vs. 5%).
About one-third (36%) of Americans think the federal government is much or somewhat more corrupt than their state government, while only 13% say their state is more corrupt. Democrats are more likely than Republicans and Independents to say their state government has less corruption than the federal government.
45% of Americans think Donald Trump has used the presidency to enrich family and friends during his second term, which is far more than say he has run an open and transparent administration (18%) or has set a high moral standard (11%).
Image: Getty (Michael M. Santiago / Staff)
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