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Commentators have taken note recently of the publics loss of faith in many of the institutions and pillars of our society that have long been anchors of trust and reliability. These include the press, organized religion, government institutions, political leaders and the electoral process itself.

Even colleges and universities, which have been viewed as ivory towers of relative harmony, until recently, have come in for assault. They are now battlegrounds in the culture wars for those preaching political correctness and those opposed to wokeness. A Gallup poll released in July 2023 showed that only 36% of Americans have quite a lot of confidence in higher education. This is down from 48% in 2018 and 57% in 2015. The percentage is probably even lower now.

The loss of trust in the basic elements of our society that have kept America strong and growing is most concerning, and potentially most dangerous, in the declining view of the presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court.

President Bidens approval rating as of early August 2023 was less than 42%; when Donald Trump left office, his approval rating was 34%. Barack Obamas average approval rating of 48% during his two terms was hardly a ringing chorus of trust.

According to an April 2023 report by The Pew Research Center, 72% of Americans had an unfavorable view of Congress. The Pew Center also found that less than half of Americans had a favorable opinion of The Supreme Court a figure that is much lower than in recent years.

One can speculate about the reasons for this universal decline and what actions and policies can be undertaken to reverse it. Until such actions and policies are successful, we have to deal with the potentially serious consequences of the current situation.

Congress makes the laws. The president enforces them, and the Supreme Court interprets them. Voluntary obedience to a person or institution of authority is generated by respect and sometimes fear for that source of authority. Historically, our government has relied on respect and has only used fear in extreme cases.

Once the public loses faith in those who make, enforce and interpret the rules of the game, it hardly takes a great leap to where the public may begin to ignore or disobey the rules themselves. The events of Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol indicate the horror that could begin to happen on a broader scale.

The common belief that the system is basically run fairly has been an anchor preventing our nation from falling into a state of anarchy. We revere and obey the constitution, but it has been referred to as nothing but a rope of sand if it were not voluntarily obeyed. If everyone followed only the laws with which he or she agreed, the consequences would obviously be disastrous.

An instance in which our constitutional structure was not obeyed did occur, nearly 200 years ago. President Andrew Jackson refused to enforce a decision of the Supreme Court regarding the removal of Seminole Indians from Florida. Jackson famously said: The Supreme Court has made its decision, now let them enforce it. Fortunately, that resistance by Jackson stands as a rarity in terms of acts that have seriously threatened the very basis of our system of government. However, it does reflect how fragile our form of government can be. It depends on an ongoing common consensus to follow the laws and rules that the institutions of authority have set down.

If disrespect for those institutions becomes widespread, the contempt expressed by Jackson and the chaos that would result could threaten the very fabric of our nation. There was a time when that threat seemed too remote to consider seriously. That time has passed. Voters need to recognize and work against candidates who try to encourage and mobilize this loss of faith in our institutions. Otherwise, it could be converted into a threat to the very structure for which our institutions are a vital support.

Kenneth S. Birnbaum (kbirnb@aol.com) has served in the legislative branch as counsel to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and in the executive branch as director of congressional relations for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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Deteriorating public trust is a threat to democracy | GUEST COMMENTARY - Baltimore Sun