American politicians used to be associated with distinguished class and education. As American culture has developed, our elected officials have adopted principles that are less tasteful and more associated with immature, unpolished behavior. Where we once had publicly dignified, respectable leaders, we now have individuals — like Lauren Boebert and Jamaal Bowman — who devote their time to peddling conspiracy theories and appear on the news for all the wrong reasons. These declining levels of respect for the positions they hold, and the dignity that should be associated with it, have made young people increasingly frustrated with their government, giving rise to broader suspicions that our current representatives are unqualified and incapable of solving the problems America faces today. If elected officials in the U.S. want the public to see the government as a serious and respectable body, they must first act with more reverence for their roles and integrity.
The declining decorum of congresspeople and other high profile government officials has led to some of the lowest approval ratings for governing bodies in over 50 years. In a Gallup poll, over 50% of young people claim that they have “very little” trust in Congress.
While politicians are getting away with more and more activities unbecoming of the offices they hold, trust in Congress is only degrading further. This has been demonstrated in several different instances, ranging in severity. In the midst of a Senate hearing on labor unions, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-OK brought up online threats made by Sean O’Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and challenged him to a fistfight on the Senate floor.
Even more trivial acts, like the decision to apply a new, more casual dress code on Capitol Hill point to a reality in which our representatives are less interested in maintaining high regard for the role itself
This is, however, a very recent phenomenon. In fact, it wasn’t even 20 years ago when respect and decency, even among political rivals, was common in Washington. In the lead-up to the 2008 Presidential election, Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain came to Democratic Nominee Barack Obama’s defense after one of McCain’s supporters made disparaging, racist claims about the Democratic nominee. Before she could finish, McCain grabbed the mic and interrupted, stating that Obama was a “family man, a citizen that (he) just happen(s) to have disagreements with.”
In the last 50 years, as the U.S. has cemented itself as a political and economic powerhouse, its policymakers have become important national symbols and de facto ambassadors for the U.S. Not only do their decisions impact the lives of American citizens, but also the hundreds of millions of people affected by U.S. foreign policy. If the U.S. hopes to maintain its position as one of the most powerful countries in the world, it is important that they represent us with respect and honor. Otherwise, our allies might question the legitimacy of our politicians, and choose to stray away from allyship in the future.
As the behavior of our politicians takes a nosedive, so too does the respect our allies have for us. This was the case in former President Donald Trump’s 2018 visit to the United Kingdom, where Trump was greeted by large swathes of protesters, as well as a large balloon depicting the former president as a baby. The protests were adverse consequences of Trump’s childish and juvenile behavior, and they represented a shift in how people in other countries view our leadership.
This has not stopped many politicians from assuming that respect for the government is unnecessary, with many arguing in support of abandoning decorum, claiming that disrespect illustrates a certain exasperation with the government. Such is the case with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-GA, who has become infamous for her loud demeanor and high levels of disregard toward her position as a U.S. Representative. Famously, Greene frequently disrupted the President’s State of the Union Address by yelling and shouting remarks during his speech. Her constant heckling could be likened to shouts one could expect from a harsh peanut gallery, rather than from the seats of our own Congress. Additionally, there is irony in the fact that an event which is meant to be a depiction of the country’s strength is being derailed by the unruly and irresponsible behaviors of our politicians.
While this degradation of respect on the Hill has garnered support for some politicians, it has also severely affected the ways in which the public views the government. These unbecoming behaviors make politicians seem untrustworthy, unprofessional and unstable, further contributing to the already rising distrust that young people have for the government.
As the fragility of democracy becomes strikingly clear, it is important for both politicians and their constituents to recognize the respect demanded by our shared political institutions. If politicians expect the younger generation to trust them and respect their authority, they must first ensure that they behave in a manner worthy of our respect and trust.
Mateo Alvarez is an Opinion columnist studying political science. He is interested in the cross-section of politics and culture, and he can be reached at mateoalv@umich.edu.
The post Young Americans have lost respect for politicians; bad behavior in Washington is to blame appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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