Why So Few Trust Government & How an Inclusive Economy Can Change That

We are witnessing the emergence of a new world order. Following the Cold War, the U.S. and its allies made significant errors in the Balkans during the 1990s and in the Middle East in the 2000s.

These missteps have led to a decline in U.S. dominance in the 1990s and early 2000s, paving the way for Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and others to advocate for a decoupling from the West and its allies.

Putin and Xi Jinping are particularly focused on weakening the West with their imperial ambitions. Putin’s hypocrisy is especially notable as he continues his efforts to eliminate Ukraine’s independence.

Countries are grappling with a crisis of trust, which is particularly worrisome during economic downturns, health emergencies, and other crises. Democracies rely on citizens’ trust in their government to function well.

But trust has been eroded because of a combination of our apathy and overconfidence.

That trust must be restored. A key path to that would be ensuring that government works to solve the problems of the everyday person.

Neoliberal economics has created a world where many are incapable of imagining how they will purchase their first home; many are opting out of post-secondary education due its exponentially-increasing costs; many are choosing not to have kids because of the costs associated with it.