Public Discontent: Americans’ Belief That Government Fails Them

In Nevada and across the United States, a profound disconnect exists between citizens and their government. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey revealed that 85% of Americans believe elected officials do not care what people like them think, a sentiment echoed by 83% in a 2024 survey (Pew Research Center 2023; Pew Research Center 2024a). In Nevada, where the 2025 legislative session addressed over 1,200 bills, public frustration mirrors national trends, with 66% of Americans dissatisfied with democracy’s functionality (Nevada Legislature 2025; Pew Research Center 2024b). This pervasive belief—that government serves elites over the public—fuels distrust and demands strategic advocacy to restore responsive governance.

Data underscores the depth of this discontent. Nationally, only 22% of adults trust the federal government to do the right thing most or all of the time, a near-historic low (Pew Research Center 2024c). In Nevada, 70% of residents view state government more favorably than federal, yet 51% distrust state institutions (Johns Hopkins University 2018; Echelon Insights 2025). A 2022 survey found 69% of Americans believe the government does too little for middle-income people, while 61% say it favors the wealthy (Pew Research Center 2022). This perception, coupled with 65% of Americans feeling that government is run by special interests, erodes civic engagement and threatens liberty (Governmentisgood.com 2000).

Advocacy firms are critical to addressing this crisis. Organizations should define policy goals, such as reducing regulatory burdens, and engage firms with Nevada and federal expertise, where 300 top firms manage 70% of lobbying expenditures (Center for Responsive Politics 2021). Prioritize services like issue monitoring and message crafting to counter elite influence. Meet firms to ensure alignment with liberty and transparency, and secure clear contracts. With 68% of policy successes tied to professional advocacy, such partnerships can amplify public voices (Baumgartner et al. 2009).

Widespread distrust signals a call to action. By leveraging advocacy, organizations can challenge unresponsive governance and champion policies that reflect the public’s will in Nevada and beyond. Contact advocacy specialists to drive change now.

References

Baumgartner, Frank R., Jeffrey M. Berry, Marie Hojnacki, David C. Kimball, and Beth L. Leech. 2009. Lobbying and Policy Change: Who Wins, Who Loses, and Why. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Center for Responsive Politics. 2021. “Lobbying Database.” OpenSecrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/.

Echelon Insights. 2025. “Consumer Omnibus Survey.” https://t.co/mCcvUSMwx4.

Governmentisgood.com. 2000. “What Is Really Wrong with Government.” http://www.governmentisgood.com/articles.php?aid=12.

Johns Hopkins University. 2018. “Americans Don’t Know Much About State Government, Survey Finds.” https://hub.jhu.edu/2018/12/14/americans-dont-know-state-government-survey/.

Nevada Legislature. 2025. “83rd Session Bill Statistics.” https://www.leg.state.nv.us/.

Pew Research Center. 2022. “Americans’ Views of Government: Decades of Distrust, Enduring Support for Its Role.” https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/06/06/americans-views-of-government-decades-of-distrust-enduring-support-for-its-role/.

Pew Research Center. 2023. “More Than 80% of Americans Believe Elected Officials Don’t Care What People Like Them Think.” https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/04/30/more-than-80-of-americans-believe-elected-officials-dont-care-what-people-like-them-think/.

Pew Research Center. 2024a. “The State of Public Trust in Government 2024.” https://www.ourpublicservice.org/publications/the-state-of-public-trust-in-government-2024/.

Pew Research Center. 2024b. “Satisfaction with Democracy Has Declined in Recent Years in High-Income Nations.” https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/06/18/satisfaction-with-democracy-has-declined-in-recent-years-in-high-income-nations/.

Pew Research Center. 2024c. “Public Trust in Government: 1958–2024.” https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/06/24/public-trust-in-government-1958-2024/.