Opinion - The ethical and moral practices of federal government officials.

Coming after a wave of national polls showing plummeting approval ratings for the White House and Congress, a new MSNBC "Ethics in America" poll notes that only 34% of the public trust the government in place to do what is right -- either always or most of the time.

That finding is nearly identical to one from a similar survey in 1998. But it's a steep drop from 1958 (when 73% said they trusted the government), 1968 (when 61% said that), and 1988 (40%).

Furthermore, the poll -- conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates from June 16 to June 21, with a MOE of +/- 3.4% -- shows that a whopping 74% rate the ethical and moral practices of federal government officials either only fair or poor. In a similar 1964 survey, just 34% said that.


(The poll also notes that journalists have a problem, as 63% say our ethical and moral practices are fair or poor.)