Small Business Tops Public Opinion Poll

By PlanetLaundry staff | Apr 23, 2010

The Pew Research Center has released a new survey showing growing discontent and distrust of government and nearly every major institution in the U.S., except for small business and a handful of other groups. According to the survey, the increasing distrust of government is spurred by a dismal economy, an unhappy public, bitter partisan-based backlash, and epic discontent with Congress and elected officials.

The recent downward trend in trust in government began in the fall of 2008, when public satisfaction plunged amid the financial crisis. In early October 2008, 11 percent said they were satisfied with the way things were going in this country – the lowest measure in more than two decades of Pew Research Center polling.

Respondents also expressed discontent with many of the country’s other major institutions. Just 25 percent say the federal government has a positive effect on the way things are going in the country and about as many (24 percent) say the same about Congress. Yet the ratings are just as low for the impact of large corporations (25 percent positive) and banks and other financial institutions (22 percent). And the marks are only slightly more positive for the national news media (31 percent), labor unions (32 percent) and the entertainment industry (33 percent).

However, small businesses were widely seen as having a positive impact on the country. Small business ranked number one with 71 percent of respondents having positive views. Large corporations, on the other hand, earned a 64 percent negative rating, meaning the majority believe large corporations are having a negative impact on the country.

Small business was one of only four institutions – including technology companies (68 percent), churches and religious groups (63 percent), and colleges and universities (61 percent) – to receive a majority positive rating.