Thirty-eight percent (38%) of American voters believe it’s better for the country when one political party controls Congress and the other major party controls the White House. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of 800 Likely Voters found that 29% disagree and believe that divided government is bad for the country. Thirty-three percent (33%) are not sure.

Democrats, by a 44% to 23% margin, currently tend to see divided government as good for the nation. Republicans, by a 37% to 26% margin, tend to hold the opposite view. An earlier survey release showed that 48% of Americans now trust Congressional Democrats more than President Bush on key issues. Thirty-eight percent (38%) place more trust in the President.

However, trust is not a word Americans apply too strongly when politicians are involved. Fifty-eight percent (58%) say that most members of Congress change votes on key issues in exchange for campaign contributions. Only 15% disagree. On this point, there is little difference between the views of Republicans and Democrats. An earlier survey found that just 16% believe that our government today reflects the will of the people.

Last year, a Rasmussen Reports survey found that Americans were more likely to trust a used-car salesman than a Member of Congress. That’s one reason that only 11% of voters gave the outgoing Congress good or excellent ratings. A growing number have come to believe that America’s best days are behind us.