The ‘Legitimation’ Crisis: Why Have Americans Lost Trust in Government?
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John Rennie Short, The ‘Legitimation’ Crisis: Why Have Americans Lost Trust in Government?, https://www.govexec.com/management/2016/10/legitimation-crisis-us-why-have-americans-lost-trust-government/132574/
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Abstract
Elections normally decide who is to govern. This upcoming election is about the very legitimacy of the system.
At the final presidential debate, Republican candidate Donald Trump made the remarkable statement that he might not accept the outcome of the election. Even putting this rancorous and divisive presidential election aside, trust in the federal government in general has been in decline for decades.