Washington

On this July Fourth, Americans are deeply disillusioned with politics and government. A Pew poll late last year found that only 19 per cent of people trust the government all or most of the time.

It was not always so. In 1964, fully 77 per cent per cent of Americans answered the question positively. Disenchantment extends to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, their parties' presumptive nominees. Both have "unfavourable" ratings exceeding 50 per cent, reports Real Clear Politics. For millions of Americans, the election is a choice between lesser evils. Politics and government seem broken. There is a palpable sense of betrayal. Voters are said to be angry. The sour climate suggests people believe the country isn't living up to its potential or worse, that potential is declining. Despite many proposals from the presidential candidates, there is no real consensus about what to do. The contest for the White House is, so far, more about character than ideas.