What are some of the things that you trust? What are some things that you trust? “Japanese cars” – Frank, a 56-year-old independent Latino. “Social security” – Tom, a 67-year-old white Democrat. “The human instinct to help” – Tina, a 66-year-old white independent. Democracy struggles to function without a fundamental level of trust. Citizens need to trust in elections, institutions, and each other. However, distrust seems to be widespread today. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, the average level of confidence in various institutions such as the military, the Supreme Court, and big business was only 27%. To explore the levels of trust among Americans and what influences their confidence or skepticism, we conducted a focus group with 11 participants from different political affiliations. Eight out of the 11 participants mentioned that they trusted other Americans, although their reasons varied. For example, Melody, a 51-year-old participant, stated, “If I let mass shootings and police incidents affect me, I would never leave the house.” Seven participants mentioned that it had become more difficult to trust others in recent years. Some pointed to specific events, such as a participant who mentioned feeling uncomfortable in enclosed spaces after the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Others attributed their distrust to general technological advancements. Melissa, a 38-year-old participant, stated, “When there’s a filter to change your body, face, or skin, how can you trust anything about a person?” When it came to building trust, both Democrats and Republicans emphasized values such as respect, better communication, and less reliance on social media isolation. Tom, a 67-year-old Democrat, expressed his concern about the excessive use of devices, saying, “How can you build trust when you’re not talking?” In conclusion, trust plays a crucial role in the functioning of a democracy. While some individuals still trust their fellow Americans, others have become more skeptical due to specific events or technological advancements. Building trust requires a focus on values and reducing reliance on digital devices.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
