I think the United States has probably always been in a different spot on trust in institutions from Australia, NZ and UK, (don’t know about Canada). Maybe it goes back as far as the founding fathers and the structure of the Constitution, but the Australian Constitution is heavily based off the US, sonit cant be the whole story. And as Anthony Scaramucchi noted on Rest is Politics, a lot of authoritarian States have very similarly worded Constitutions to the US.
Maybe its simply the amount of political appointees that remain politically motivated in their procedural capacities. So many appointments are made by inckming administrations, then the legal system Judicial arms race, elections for Sheriffs.
Or maybe its neither of these things, maybe the United States has always had less cohesive political positions between each other, and the success, wealth, and strength of the country has meant the people of the Nation haven’t been put in a position where they’re forced to reconnoitre with their erstwhile political enemies.
Or maybe its something else, but the US’s individualism and distrust of… authority? Institutions? I don’t know, has definitely been a difference between our Nations.
finitebanjo@lemmy.world 1 week ago
If anything I’d say UK is worse in that metric in the same timeframe.
Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone 1 week ago
Hmm, maybe.
I always found the british are more cynical, which makes it seem like they have less trust. But when you observe their behaviour i think they’re more trusting of institutions, than the Americans.
I think an interesting example of Britain’s trust in their Government is all the Leave voters thinking the Boris Johnson, Farage types actually had a plan for brexit, beyond corruption. I think thats evident in the amount of leave voters who have switched their own assessments.
Comparing that to the US theres no signs of changes to population divisions or sentiments about the other side or Government. Of course all sides have truths to point to, where resolutions to those truths aren’t delivered, which doesn’t help any healing or moving on prospects.
I’ve found Americans can be super positive people about all kinds, but its almost a social sin to speak well of government services. Of course, i’m speaking in the broadest possible terms here, i can think of a friend in NY who undermines this argument a little.
Doesn’t help the UK have one of the most aggressive medias in the world. They’ll oerblow a straight banana, if they could… oh… wait…