Responding to Voters Dissatisfaction With Government Trust in

Responding to Voters’ Dissatisfaction With Government

Trust in Government How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right? Only some of the time Just about always / Most of the time 76 1964 2018 16 22 83

Design of Study PPC studying issue many years: focus groups as well as surveys In mid-2016, survey with open-ended question about dissatisfaction with government. Recurring themes distilled down to 49 fundamental critiques. Separate sample of voters asked how much they agreed with each of these critiques in 2016 and then 2018.

Fielding of Surveys October 15 - November 5, 2018: 3, 045 registered voters. January 5 -March 23, 2018: 4, 886 registered voters, September 22 -October 17, 2017: 2, 569 registered voters August 3 -16, 2017: 3, 045 registered voters, December 22 -28, 2016: 2, 980 registered voters. Total: 16, 525 registered voters The margin of error varied from +/-1. 8 to +/-2. 2% for the full sample, as high as +/-4. 5% for partial samples. All surveys were conducted online with a sample provided by Nielsen Scarborough from its larger probability-based panel recruited by telephone and mail.

THE FOUNDER’S SOCIAL CONTRACT In exchange for the people giving elected officials the reins of power, submitting to that power and paying taxes, elected officials: • should serve the common good of the people, rather than their own interests or any type of special interest. • should consult and be influenced by the views of the people they represent.

“A government ought to [be]… free from every other control but a regard to the public good and to the sense of the people. - Alexander Hamilton

Fulfilling the Founders’ Vision Not that well Not well at all National 35 50 Republicans 38 42 Democrats 36 55 85 79 91

Failing to serve the common good over special interests

Would you say the government is pretty much run by a few big interests looking out for themselves or that it is run for the benefit of all the people? 100 A few big interests 89 79 80 60 92 66 64 71 40 40 57 53 55 38 39 31 29 24 20 69 64 61 51 76 77 JULY 2016 70 35 24 21 18 27 28 19 19 Benefit of all the people 9 7 0 1964 1970 1976 1978 1983 1985 1988 1990 1994 1998 2008 2016 2018 Source: American National Election Survey, CBS News, New York Times, Pew Research Center, Program for

CRITIQUE: Congress does not serve the common good of the people. Agree strongly or somewhat National 84 Republicans 87 Democrats 84

CRITIQUE: Organized interest groups and their lobbyists have too much influence. Agree strongly or somewhat National 87 Republicans 90 Democrats 85

CRITIQUE: Members of Congress think mostly about their party, not about what is good for the country. Agree strongly or somewhat

Failing to Consult and Be Influenced By the People

CRITIQUE: Members of Congress do not listen to the people they represent. Agree strongly or somewhat National 84 Republicans 84 Democrats 85

How Often do Elected Officials Make the Same Decisions That the Majority of Americans Would Make? National Republicans Democrats 33% of the time 39% of the time 30% of the time

Demand for Greater Responsiveness How responsive do you think Members of Congress should be to the views of the majority of their constituents? (0 -10) Mean Response Should 8. 4 National 8. 4 8. 6 Republicans 8. 6 Democrats 8. 1

Demand for Greater Responsiveness How responsive do you think Members of Congress should be to the views of the majority of their constituents? (0 -10) How responsive are Members of Congress? (0 -10)? Mean Response 8. 4 National Should Are Public Should Have More Influence 8. 4 3. 7 88% 4 90% 3. 5 86% 8. 6 Republicans 8. 6 Democrats 8. 1

Optimism that greater responsiveness will have positive effects

If the views of the public were to have more influence… …. do you think the nation would be better off, or worse off than it is today? Better off National 83 Republicans 75 Democrats 89

Listening to the People and Congressional Gridlock When Congress gets stuck in gridlock, do you think: If Congress would listen to the views of the people, this would help break the logjam, because the people are less polarized than Congress. Turning to the views of the people would not help, because the gridlock in Congress is just a reflection of the polarization among the people.

Listening to the People and Congressional Gridlock When Congress gets stuck in gridlock, do you think: If Congress would listen to the views of the people, this would help break the logjam, because the people are less polarized than Congress. National Republicans Democrats 67 59 Turning to the views of the people would not help, because the gridlock in Congress is just a reflection of the polarization among the people. 30 40 72 25

Perceived Responsiveness and Voting Behavior in Senate Election Frequency of Voting Frequency of respondent voting for Senate incumbent increased with higher perceived responsiveness 80 66 43 47 17 (0 -2) Less Responsive (3 -4) (5) (6 -7) (8 -10) More Responsive

Assumed Responsiveness and Voting Behavior In Presidential Election Frequency of respondent voting for Presidential candidate increased with higher assumed responsiveness Donald Trump Hillary Clinton Frequency of Voting 90 85 66 92 58 42 33 17 5 2 (0 -2) (3 -4) (5) Less Responsive (6 -7) (8 -10) More Responsive (0 -2) (3 -4) (5) Less Responsive Assumed Level of Responsiveness (6 -7) (8 -10) More Responsive

The narrative of violating the social contract from outsider candidates in the 2016 and 2018 Elections

“We are fighting for every American who believes government should serve the people – not the donors, and not the special interests. ” “The government will work for the people again. Voters, not special interests, will be in charge. ”

“I’m fine being called a bull in a china shop, because politics that answers to special interests more than the American people should be disrupted. ”

Consulting the People

Citizen Cabinet Large representative sample of district, state, or nation to be consulted on issues before the government Go through an online process ’policymaking simulation’ • Briefing on issue and policy options • Evaluate pro and con arguments • Make final recommendations Content reviewed by experts across spectrum of views Results delivered to Congressional representative and media

Member of Congress Inviting Constituents to Participate in Citizen Cabinet Survey Approve strongly or somewhat

Likelihood a Member of Congress with a Citizen Cabinet would be more responsive Very or somewhat likely National 64 Republicans 63 Democrats 66

Is it politically viable for Members or candidates to promote having a Citizen Cabinet?

Will partisanship override positive response to having a Citizen Cabinet?

Candidate presented who makes pledge to: • consult constituents • support having a Citizen Cabinet • take into account its recommendations when deciding how to vote. Candidate given partisan label, different for different subsamples

Effect of Candidate Who Pledges to Consult Citizen Cabinet Republican View of Democratic Candidate Positive 79 More likely to vote for 64 Democratic View of Republican Candidate Positive 92 More likely to vote for 80

In the Rough and Tumble of a Campaign Will a Candidate Who Supports Having a Citizen Cabinet Be Vulnerable to Attacks? Presented hypothetical debate

Hypothetical Debate: Attack on Candidate Proposing Citizen Cabinet Members of Congress shouldn’t govern by putting their finger to the wind, reacting to every shift in public opinion. The American people elect Members of Congress to show leadership and make decisions. Having a Citizen Cabinet would make it harder for members of Congress to exercise their independent judgment, make the hard decisions and do what is best for the country --rather than what they think is popular.

Consulting the People Through a Citizen Cabinet Critique: Very or somewhat convincing National 35 Republicans 40 Democrats 34

Hypothetical debate: Candidate’s rebuttal The problem with Congress is not that they’re too reactive to public opinion—it’s that they’re too reactive to special interests. The Citizen Cabinet will give me advice from people who have heard all sides of an issue and come to wellconsidered conclusions that accurately reflect the will of the people. This way we can all be sure that the special interests are not in charge. I think that when the people have accurate and balanced information they can give valuable advice about what is best for the country.

Consulting the People Through a Citizen Cabinet Rebuttal: Very or somewhat convincing National 84 Republicans 85 Democrats 85

Based on what you have heard in the debate, would you be more inclined to vote for: Democratic Candidate Who Commits to Consult the Citizen Cabinet Republicans 78 18 Republican Candidate Who Commits to Consult the Citizen Cabinet Democrats Opponent 90 Opponent 7

Will the Citizen Cabinet really find common ground? Will the Citizen Cabinet do any better in solving the problems that have stymied Congress?

Pilot Study of Citizen Cabinets National Eight States Two Districts

Social Security

Social Security Recommendations Endorsed by Large Majorities (Cover 66% of Shortfall) Reduce benefits for upper 25% Raise retirement age to 68 Raise cap on taxable earnings to $215 k Raise payroll tax rate to 6. 6% National Republicans Democrats 76 72 81 79 81 78 24 28 19 21 19 22 88 84 92 76 72 80 12 16 8 24 28 20

Social Security Additional Recommendations Endorsed by Majorities (Cover 98% of Shortfall) Eliminate the cap on taxable earnings National Republicans Democrats National Raise the minimum monthly benefit Republicans Democrats 59 54 41 46 64 58 49 35 42 51 67 33

Federal Budget

Federal Budget Overall majority reduced deficit by $348 billion Republicans and Democrats converged on $128 billion in deficit reduction Republicans raised taxes Democrats cut spending

Responding to Voters’ Dissatisfaction With Government www. publicconsultation. org

Immigration

Investing in a Wall on the Southern Border Do you favor or oppose the government spending $25 billion to build a stronger barrier along the US southern border with Mexico, primarily by building a wall?

Require Employers to Use E-Verify System All employers must use the E-Verify system to verify that current employees and all new job applicants have the legal right to work in the US. Employers who do not verify their employees and are found to be employing undocumented immigrants will be fined. Employers who repeatedly fail to use the verification system and hire undocumented immigrants may be sentenced up to 18 months in prison and their business license may be revoked.

Expand Program for Guest Workers Making it possible to substantially increase the number of temporary work visas, called H-2 B visas, for industries that rely on temporary, often seasonal, labor, such as landscaping, construction, hotels, conservation, and amusement parks. Such increases would only be allowed if the government determines that there are no American workers who want those jobs and employers pay the same wage that is paid to American workers in those jobs. Guest workers are not allowed to collect any public benefits, but they do pay federal, state and local taxes and are required to periodically return to their home country.

DACA Provide legal status and make eligible for citizenship in 10 -12 years

“The ultimate arbiter is the people. ” - Thomas Jefferson