Record numbers feel threatened by government

A majority of Americans believe the federal government “threatens [their] personal rights and freedoms,” according to a Pew Research Center poll.

This marks a record high and it is the first time more than 50 percent said they think government infringes upon their rights since Pew began asking the question in 1995.

Only 47 percent felt threatened the last time Pew asked the question in May 2010.

The spike was led by conservative Republicans, 76 percent of whom saw the federal government as a threat to their freedoms. Only 38 percent of Democrats said the same.

Seventy-three percent of respondents said they can trust government only some of the time, or never. Just 15 percent of Republicans said they trusted the federal government most or all of the time. Both figures are near all-time records.

Overall, 20 percent of Americans are “basically content” with federal government, the survey concluded.

The poll was conducted for People & the Press from Jan. 9-13, among 1,502 adults.

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