Almost No One Trusts Their Government Outside of the US and Israel

The point of this blog is to find extraordinary stories like this one, which has the power to change one's worldview. The 13% statistic for people's trust in government is actually overstated because government employees were included in the survey and because people tend not to speak openly about anti-government views in unfree socities.

"Who Runs Your World?" was the question put by Gallup International and the BBC World Service to more than 50,000 people in 68 countries in what was billed as one of the biggest surveys of public opinion ever conducted.

One of the most striking findings was international disillusionment with politicians. They achieved extremely low confidence ratings, with only 13 percent trusting them.

The exceptions were South Africans, Israelis and Scandinavians. Most of these believed their governments were in tune with the people . . . .Jews appeared to be the most positive about being able to change their own lives.

Throughout Africa, religion plays an extremely important role, particularly in Nigeria where an overwhelming 85 percent backed their church leaders. Religion also achieved high ratings in the lives of Americans and Canadians.