Using what you have learned this semester about Americans’ support for American democratic institutions and elites, including trust in government and approval of American political elites and institutions, provide a detailed answer to her question.

Discussion Essay

Imagine that you are at a family gathering next week when a heated debate ensues between your favorite aunt and uncle. Your uncle proclaims that Americans do not care about poor people and are not supportive of policy interventions to help the poor, but your aunt argues that Americans care very much about poor people and want to see government do a lot more to help people living in poverty.

Having just completed a course on American Public Opinion, you feel compelled to intercede. To mediate the dispute, how would you describe American public opinion about

(a) persons living in poverty and

(b) policies to address poverty? Which of the two would you say is correct, and why?

Suppose you are at dinner later this evening discussing the course that you recently completed on American public opinion when another student asks you,

Using what you have learned this semester about Americans’ support for American democratic institutions and elites, including trust in government and approval of American political elites and institutions, provide a detailed answer to her question.