Rasmussen Reports just published an article with some very interesting statistics online, things that bode especially well for the anarchist movement. Consider the opening paragraph:
“The founding document of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, states that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Today, however, just 21% of voters nationwide believe that the federal government enjoys the consent of the governed.”
That is staggering. Just a generation ago, those numbers would’ve been the direct opposite. Now, this means only one in five Americans WHO VOTE believe in the U.S. government. This is to say nothing of the far greater numbers, myself most heartily included, who don’t participate in elections at all.
It’s abundantly clear that faith in government itself is dying. Now contemplate these gems:
“Seventy-one percent (71%) of all voters now view the federal government as a special interest group, and 70% believe that the government and big business typically work together in ways that hurt consumers and investors.”
“That helps explain why 75% of voters are angry at the policies of the federal government, and 63% say it would be better for the country if most members of Congress are defeated this November. Just 27% believe their own representative in Congress is the best person for the job. “
“Among voters under 40, 25% believe government has the consent of the governed. That compares to 19% of those ages 50 to 64 and 16% of the nation’s senior citizens.”
“Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Republicans say the government does not have the consent of the governed, and that view is shared by 65% of voters not affiliated with either of the major parties. A plurality of Democrats (44%) agrees, but 32% of those in President Obama’s party believe the government has the necessary consent. “
“From an ideological perspective, most moderate and conservative voters say the government lacks the consent of the governed. Liberals are evenly divided. “
Did you catch that? Even among the ranks of typically pro-government leftists (not to say that right-wingers are not thoroughly statist), less than half consider the current government to be legitimate.
Now ingest, if you will, this stat: “63% of the Political Class think the government has the consent of the governed, but only six percent (6%) of those with Mainstream views agree.”
Beyond revealing starkly the total disconnect between politicians and people, this is also evidentiary of a wholehearted arrogance: “YOU may not believe we’re legitimate, you taxpaying slaves, but WE do.”
But hope springs eternal: “In his new book, In Search of Self-Governance, Scott Rasmussen observes that the American people are ‘united in the belief that our political system is broken, that politicians are corrupt, and that neither major political party has the answers.’ He adds that ‘the gap between Americans who want to govern themselves and the politicians who want to rule over them may be as big today as the gap between the colonies and England during the 18th century.’”
This is very, very good news. For it shows that clearly, free-market anarchism posits a clear and unambiguous alternative to the State as Americans’ faith in it erodes. As we approach this critical philosophical and political milestone, I urge all anarchists to spread the truth. I urge all the presently uninitiated to explore this website, explore market anarchy itself, and join us in the imminent demise of the disease known as government.
