Politically speaking I hope the Democrats take note of this and sincerely give a message that has these values.

I think part of the metric accounts for
our love of our forces overseas, we're proud
of those boys fighting 'black hawk down' over
there.

But the rest of it, isn't just us 'keeping
safe from terrorists'.. its a country
with a hollywood mentality looking at
our country as if its fort apache the bronx.

Generally, you don't trust the people that
sell you out. I would really like
to see where media entertainment companies
rank in this chart..

If you were alive then - which institution would
hold the greatest promise for social change.
The church halted operation 'gentle death'.

What about now. Do you think the church can
play any role at all keeping us from
becoming a police state?

Outside of the McJesus Zombies, Inc churches, so too are most churches.

Congress is old hat.  Everyone thinks Congress sucks, but everyone likes their Congressman.  So . . .

Given the re-elect percentage in Congress, apparently trust doesn't equate to electability.

At least Congress has a marketing op:

"Your Congress--Better than an HMO!"

[/satire]

The second issue that bothers me is the lack of confidence in public education. I don't understand why everyone thinks their school and their kid is above average, but they think public schools are failing. What I see from inside the classroom is a change not in my school as an institution, but in my students. They don't want to think. They want to be told what to do. Exactly. Then they want to get an "A" for doing a half ass first attempt at it. Then their parents want to complain that little Johnny didn't get the "A" because (fill in the blank). There is little work ethic anymore, or a desire to learn. This has increased noticeably in just the 10 years I've been teaching.

What is scary to me is how both these points tie into Bower's point about people being more comfortable with a totalitarian state. My students don't question. My students don't think for themselves. They want to be told what to do. And they probably think the Military and the Police are just great.

This is not good for our country.

Also, police rates high because crime rates have come down in recent years. With the exception of Rodney King or Amadou Diallo moments, the police generally rate very high.

But I have to say, I agree with Chris here. I.e. that we aren't exactly Weimar America and I think people who make those analogies are being hysterical. But at the same time, that people trust those institutions above all others does suggest, at the very least, a conservative, authoritarian bent in the public. Probably this is always the case and that liberals like myself are almost always in the minority, except for short bursts of great optimism and reformist ferment followed by long spells of conservative retrenchment. But nevertheless, I'd rather this wasn't so.

Ben P

Which are the three entities on that list most likely to be listening in on a phone call?

Homeland security agents, local police, and God.

So there you go.

I hereby declare, within my rather limited capacity, Godwin's law in effect for this discussion. You lose, Chris.

BTW, as a former member of the US Navy, your interpetation of this is pathetic. Your history is worse. Nazi Germany did not result because the people viewed the military more favorably that they did the Government of Hitler. It resulted more from the opposite. The military leaders who opposed Hitler were cowed by the public adoration of Hitler. Geez, if you want to slam the military, consult a history book first. This is one of the most pathetic attempts to denigrate the military I've seen. Why not just say the public is just to **(^ing ignorant to see the truth?