Just 16% of voters believe that the federal government today reflects the will of the American people. A Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 Likely Voters found that 68% disagree. Those figures reflect a sharp decline from the 1990s when more than 30% of voters routinely thought that government reflected the will of the people.

This general perception now cuts across partisan and demographic lines. The only significant variance from the overall figure was found among voters under 30. These youngest voters are a bit more optimistic than their elders—32% believe that government today reflects the will of the people.

At the same time, 56% of American voters believe that the federal government has become a special interest group that looks out primarily for its own interests. Just 24% disagree and 20% are not sure. Those figures reflect less cynicism than found in the 1990s. In that decade, the number viewing the federal government as a special interest group peaked at 72%. Surveys conducted in 32 states during Election 2006 found that large numbers of voters believe our political system is badly broken.

Fifty percent (50%) now believe that elections are generally fair to voters. Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree. Those overall numbers have remained stable in many surveys conducted over the past decade. The differences can be found under the surface. In the current survey, taken while a Republican is in the White House, GOP voters are much more likely to express faith in the fairness of our voting system. In the 1990s, with a Democrat in the White House, Democrats were more upbeat about electoral fairness.

Fifty-two percent (52%) agree with the statement that “Government is not the solution to our problems. Government is the problem.” Thirty-three percent (33%) disagree.

Thirty-six percent (36%) say that America’s political system is “rigged” while 40% disagree.

Reasons for cynicism are easy to find. Just 11% of voters currently say that Congress is doing a good or an excellent job. Voters overwhelmingly support the withdrawal of most U.S. combat troops from Iraq but don’t expect it to happen. In fact, one of the tactical advantages Nancy Pelosi (D) will enjoy as Speaker of the House is that the public expects little from Congress.