Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

John DuBois, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

A number of representatives from Demos, a New York based Research Advocacy group, attributed the recent vitriol towards the U.S. government Friday as a result of general distrust in how the government operates.

“People tend to view government through ... immediate images that pop in their head, one is that it’s just nothing but a bunch of bickering politicians, that it is just a political game and has nothing to do with me. Kind of a spectator sport if you will,” said Patrick Bresette, Associate Programming Director for Demos during a panel discussion.

Bresette said Americans also have questions over what the government really does and how tax-payer dollars are used

Jeff Madrick, Editor of Challenge magazine, attributed the recent anger to historical norms.

“The pendulum is a good way to describe american history. We did swing back and worth between pro government and anti government attitudes,” said Madrick.