Fake Patriots Cause Distrust, Division and Social Problems
True patriots vote for politicians with good character and advocate for aspirations found in the Preamble to the Constitution.
………………….Blog Contents…………………………
You Can’t Have Good Government or a Healthy Society Without Trust
How Lack of Trust Affects Society
Distrust of Politicians Leads to Distrust of Others
American Voters are Conflicted
Politicians with Poor Character are Fake Patriots
The First Step Toward Building Trust: Educate True Patriots.
Other Steps Needed to Build Trust
You Can’t Have Good Government or a Healthy Society Without Trust
Trust is the key component of all healthy relationships — including the relationship between voters and elected officials. Just like a marriage without trust is unstable and weak, democracy without trust is weak and dysfunctional. This condition describes America today.
Many Americans bemoan political and social division and worry about collapse of American democracy, but they never frame the problem in terms of the dynamics of trust. It is no mystery, therefore, that the state of American politics is characterized by deep polarization, widespread distrust in institutions, and challenges to democratic norms. Here is how democracy works when voters trust their elected leaders:
They have confidence that their leaders work for the common good of all Americans — including themselves.
Elections will be less contentious when candidates for public office are chosen on the basis of trustworthy character.
When Americans vote for politicians with good character who legislate for the common good of all Americans, more of Americans will trust politicians regardless of their party affiliations.
As more Americans learn to trust all politicians, the “us vs them” attitudes will gradually abate.
As the “us vs. them” attitudes abate, Americans will learn to trust one another.
As Americans learn to trust one another, social and political divisions will gradually close.
As Americans learn to trust all politicians and one another, high levels of public trust will encourage compliance with laws.
High levels of public trust creates a peaceful social/political environment that is inhospitable to anti-social behavior.
High levels of public trust across the population is conducive to mental and physical health.
Citizens who believe they have a voice in governance are more likely to participate in democratic processes.
When citizens trust their government, they are more likely to support policies and measures taken during emergencies, such as health crises or economic downturns.
These conditions describe what America would look like if everyone pursued the goals and aspirations of the Preamble to the Constitution:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Regrettably, these goals and aspirations have never been achieved and cannot be achieved unless American voters elect politicians with good character who can be trusted. If American voters had the wisdom and will to qualify candidates for office on the basis of character, the country would not be in the mess it is in.
Two-thirds of all Americans believe the country is going in the wrong direction. But the conventional solution to this dilemma is always to elect new politicians who will change course to the right direction. While this seems reasonable, it makes no sense given the fact that two-thirds of all Americans have an unfavorable view of federal politicians whom they think control America’s direction. Clearly Americans are conflicted and handicapped to imagine a better way of choosing effective leaders they can trust.
How Lack of Trust Affects Society
The fact that Americans have unfavorable views of politicians basically means they don’t trust politicians — especially at the federal level. Here is what Perplexity ai reports about how lack of trust affects societies:
Decreased political participation: When people don't trust the government, they are more likely to disengage from the political system, for example by abstaining from voting or not standing for political office.
Difficulty solving problems: Low trust makes it harder for the government to solve many of the country's problems. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans believe that low trust in the federal government makes it more difficult to address key issues.
Reduced compliance with rules and laws: Low trust can lead to people ignoring official information and guidance, and failing to comply with important collective obligations.
Support for anti-system parties: Lack of trust may increase support for anti-establishment or populist political parties that promise to radically change the system.
Demands for political reform: Low trust often leads to calls for reforming political institutions and processes.
Decreased legitimacy: When citizens become distrustful, the government finds it difficult to command legitimacy and respect.
Resource mobilization challenges: Low trust makes it harder for the government to mobilize resources needed to govern effectively.
Increased polarization: Intense political polarization, driven by ideological voices on social media, can make it difficult to pass legislation and address major problems.
Acceptance of misinformation: In low-trust environments, people may be more susceptible to misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Economic impacts: Declining trust can negatively affect economic progress by shortening planning horizons and reducing cooperation.
Social cohesion issues: Widespread distrust can damage social cohesion and lead to more disruptive or even violent actions by citizens.
Challenges in crisis response: Lack of trust may hamper the government's ability to respond effectively to emergencies and crises.
In summary, lack of trust in government and politicians has real-time, far-reaching, negative consequences:
Political instability
Weak, ineffective government
Distrust in institutions
Malfeasance and dysfunction in government
Social and economic division
Mental health deterioration
Radicalized political and social activism
Violence and rebellion
Rise of conspiracy theories, lies and misinformation
Existential fears that country is moving in the wrong direction
Anyone who pays attention to the news knows that these indicators of lack of trust exist in America today. A poll by the Pew Research Center about “Trust and Distrust in America” reveals what most Americans know all too well.
At one level of analysis, the poll is a report card on how well politicians do the job of governing. But more than that, is is a report card on voters’ lack of wisdom in choosing elected leaders that are trustworthy. Voters and politicians are both failing miserably.
The consequences of voters’ failure to exercise their civic responsibility to choose politicians with good character are startingly evident in the negative impacts on mental health and overall well-being that distrust generates:
Depression and Anxiety: Individuals with low levels of trust are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety such as:
Increased feelings of loneliness and isolation
Heightened stress and worry about relationships
Negative thought patterns and expectations
Relationship Difficulties: Trust issues can severely impact a person's ability to form and maintain healthy relationships. This can manifest as:
Difficulty being vulnerable or emotionally intimate with others
Constant suspicion of partners' motives or actions
Jealous behaviors and excessive "fact-checking"
The resulting relationship instability and lack of social support can further compound mental health challenges.
Reduced Life Satisfaction: Low interpersonal trust is associated with lower overall life satisfaction and subjective well-being. People who struggle to trust others may:
Have smaller social networks
Experience less fulfillment from relationships
Feel less secure in their daily lives
Increased Mental Distress: Studies have found that low trust in others is a risk factor for frequent mental distress. This can lead to:
Higher levels of perceived stress
More days feeling mentally unwell
Greater difficulty coping with life challenges
Potential for Mental Disorders: While trust issues alone do not constitute a mental illness, severe lack of trust can be associated with or exacerbate certain mental health conditions, including:
Attachment disorders
Personality disorders
Psychotic disorders with paranoid features
Physiological Effects: Chronic distrust can trigger the body's stress response, potentially leading to:
Sleep disturbances
Weakened immune function
Increased risk of physical health issues
Mental Health America conducted a study of mental health in America. Here are the key findings:
This study quantifies the consequences of raging distrust that exists in America today. The summary below reports how breakdown of trust in politicians, institutions and fellow Americans causes all kinds of social, political and economic problems:
Political polarization and partisan gridlock
Gun violence and crime
Drug addiction
Mental health crisis
Racism and social inequality
Healthcare affordability and access
The common elements of these problems are distrust, anxiety and fear. Psychologists for Social Change explains the relationship between distrust and fear this way:
Fear and distrust are central to many mental health problems. Life events which are rated as dangerous are known to cause experiences of serious anxiety. Societies which are less trusting, also tend to be less equal, and have higher levels of mental health diagnoses. High levels of distrust are associated with an 80% increase in overall reported poor health. Low levels of trust also increase the chance of being diagnosed with depression by nearly 50%. People who live in neighbourhoods which have high levels of distrust also have increased levels of all mental health problems, particularly psychosis. Loss of trust in the world and others is also known to be a precursor to suicide. Policies which increase distrust within and between communities are therefore poisonous to both community cohesion and individual mental health.
This analysis makes a powerful argument for electing trustworthy politicians with good character.
Distrust of Politicians Leads to Distrust of Others
Blaming others for problems is a common rhetorical theme in American politics. Low-level, pervasive, distrust makes it easy for Americans to blame other Americans — especially politicians, government, poor people of color and immigrants — for their problems. Politicians reinforce this thinking by blaming those “others” for problems politicians have created. Blaming others exacerbates social/political division and deflects personal responsibility for America’s problems.
Creating a “boogeyman” is a proven way to build party loyalty, attract voters and appeal for money. Hitler used this strategy effectively to make Jews the enemy of Germany. Christian Nationalists use the strategy to amp up the fears many Americans have about immigrants.
By blaming others for problems, politicians excuse themselves and voters from personal responsibility for problems. Politicians who present themselves as saviors from undesirable circumstances make it easy for voters to focus on self-serving policies and conspiracy theories. The electorate rewards that rhetoric with money and votes. These unhealthy, dysfunctional relationships exist because voters don’t know good character from bad and don’t discern lies from truth.
Once they are in office, politicians face the realities of governing in a hostile environment and realize that they are unable to fulfill promises made to voters. Politicians then work hard to deflect voters from their failed promises by blaming others. Failed promises and ineffective governing breeds distrust of politicians and government. Nevertheless, because most Americans sincerely want to use their voting power to effect change, they hold their noses and vote for politicians that they don’t really trust. They don’t know that there is a better way to practice democracy
And so the cycle continues. It’s the democratic way, but Americans must face the reality that the system doesn’t work because they don’t know enough to vote for character.
Although this is a highly simplified analysis, it makes three critical points:
Voters look to politicians to solve America’s problems with legislation.
Voters do not consider how they personally contribute to America’s problems.
Voters tend to choose elected officials on the basis of campaign rhetoric that includes appealing legislative ideas and party affiliation — not on the basis of character.
It should be obvious to all Americans that politicians with poor character will not govern to achieve the aspirations of the Preamble to the Constitution:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The Preamble outlines six broad goals for government:
Form a more perfect Union that is not divided along racial, social, economic, political, religious or educational lines
Establish Justice for all Americans
Insure domestic Tranquility for all Americans
Provide for the common defense
Promote the general Welfare for all Americans
Secure the Blessings of Liberty for current and future generations
Whether they know the Preamble or not, these are the unspoken aspirations (i.e. dreams) of all Americans. Because these aspirations are not realized, Americans put the onus on politicians to fix the problems that obstruct their aspirations. But, because politicians with poor character can’t/won’t fix the problems, angry, disappointed voters don’t trust them. Worse yet, it is often true that people who don’t trust a particular leader will also not trust fellow Americans who do trust that leader. This means that distrust is toxic, contagious and breeds social/political division.
Here are the character qualities of poor leaders that cause distrust:
Politicians with good character understand that the toxic, relational dynamics of poor leadership spread like a virus throughout the country and spoil the unity called for in the Preamble. Therefore, politicians with good character will, to the best of their ability, legislate to satisfy the aspirations of all — not just some — Americans. But, it must be said that politicians with good character wouldn’t legislate just appease Americans who do not live the American dream, or out of sympathy, morality, religious beliefs or social idealism. Of course politicians with good character will relate to the struggles of disaffected Americans, but their primary motivation will always be to legislate to achieve the goals and aspirations specified in the Preamble to the Constitution. They would be the ideal models of true patriots. This is another sense in which they are leaders with good character.
American Voters are Conflicted
Most people believe that America’s problems exist because politicians with poor character have been elected to office to solve America’s problems. The caveat to blaming politicians is that they are voted into office by voters who tend to vet politicians on the basis of campaign rhetoric, legislative priorities and party affiliation — not on the basis of character. Failure to qualify politicians for office without considering character is an indicator of voters’ poor character. It is unfair, therefore, to put all the blame for America’s problems on the politicians.
Voters’ guilt is compounded by the fact that they reelect incumbents with poor character at the rate of 90%. This brings to mind the adage "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." If voters don’t recognize poor behavior in incumbents there is something seriously wrong with the voters’ intellect and/or character. Absence of awareness of good and poor character in voters and in the politicians they elect is the real problem. It can be said, therefore, that elected officials truly represent their constituents.
If Americans would take a big picture view of their common problems, they would be forced to admit that their problems exist because voters reelect incumbent politicians with poor character at a very high rate (90% +/-). They do this every election cycle even though they have the following feelings about government and politicians:
Only 20% of Americans say they trust the federal government in Washington to do the right thing just about always or most of the time. This implies that about 80% do not consistently trust the federal government.
A 2022 survey found that just 6% of Americans believe the phrase "careful with taxpayer money" describes the federal government extremely or very well.
From these facts we must conclude that American voters are conflicted in resolving their beliefs about politicians and government through their voting habits. On the one hand, most voters say they don’t trust politicians. And on the other hand, they keep voting the politicians they say they don’t trust back into office. This pattern fits Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity:
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
If we think of voters’ attitudes about government and politicians as a report card, both voters and politicians receive failing grades.
Politicians with Poor Character and the People who Vote for them are Fake Patriots
It is accurate to say that incumbent politicians are reelected even though they have broken trust with voters by failing miserably in their legislative efforts. Why voters continue to fall for their rhetoric and lies can be explained this way: When voters and politicians focus on legislation and party loyalty, they take their eyes off the responsibilities of elected federal officials which is clearly stated in the Preamble to the Constitution:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Preamble outlines six main objectives:
Form a more perfect Union
Establish Justice
Insure domestic Tranquility
Provide for the common defense
Promote the general Welfare
Secure the Blessings of Liberty
These six objectives are the filters through which all good legislation must pass. They are also the only filter that True Patriots use when choosing whom to vote for. Legislation that does not consider and accommodate these filters is unconstitutional. It must be said, therefore, that legislation that does not achieve all of these objectives is unconstitutional. It can also be said that congresspersons who do not pursue these objectives are fake patriots who violate their oaths of office.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."
Similarly, presidents who do not pursue the objectives outlined in the Preamble violate their oaths of office.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Because the Preamble to the Constitution is part of the Constitution, we must conclude that congresspersons and presidents who do not support, preserve, protect and defend the Preamble violate the terms of their oaths of office. While we don’t know exactly what they are thinking, when we observe the fruits of their conduct, it is very easy to conclude that many congresspersons and presidents secretly harbor “mental reservations and purposes of evasion” about protecting and defending the Preamble in the dark recesses of their minds. This does not qualify them as persons of good character or true patriots.
Candidates with good character will always campaign and legislate with their oaths of office and the Preamble clearly in mind. Humility may prevent them from touting their good character, but they can greatly improve their chances of being elected while educating the American electorate about good character and the Constitution. They can do this by repeatedly referencing the Preamble and how they will support, preserve, protect and defend it “without any mental reservations and purposes of evasion” in their speeches and advertising. Any candidate for office who does this will surely stand out in political seasons fraught with lies and empty promises.
Candidates for office willing to present themselves as advocates for supporting, preserving, protecting and defending the Preamble to the Constitution will probably not volunteer for the job. More likely, True Patriots who value good character will work hard to recruit them and campaign for them. With True Patriots backing them, candidates with good character will downplay controversial policies and party identity in their rhetoric. Of course, discussion of legislation will always be a part of campaigning, but it should be done in the context of the principles of the Preamble. Personal attacks should never be part of campaign rhetoric because people with good character don’t do that.
It is exciting and encouraging to imagine election seasons populated with candidates of good character speaking out with messages of what it means to be a True Patriot and references to the Preamble. More than candidates, they will be educators of Constitutional principles and patriotism. Candidates with good character will be like a breath of fresh air to voters who despise the acrimony and vitriol of election seasons which never seem to end.
Since there are very few — if any — voters and politicians who are mindful of the Preamble, there is only one way to describe most Americans: Uninformed, conflicted and ignorant. This is not a slam on voters. It is just an accurate assessment that supports the conclusion that voters share responsibility for the state of the Nation along with the people they elect to office.
America is politically and socially divided because American voters, politicians and parties focus on legislation and political ideology to the exclusion of the objectives outlined in the Preamble. It is also divided because of different ideas of what it means to be a True Patriot.
Conservatives talk much about the First and Second Amendments, but they never mention the Preamble. Progressives, on the other hand, typically advocate for policies that are consistent with the goals and aspirations of the Preamble, but they justify legislation in terms of political ideology — not the Preamble. Who knows, if progressives did argue from the perspective of the Preamble, they might have more success getting elected and passing legislation. But, even if they don’t have legislative success, they would educate American voters and conservative legislators about the principles found in the Preamble. If all they did was educate the public about the Constitution, Preamble, and principles of good citizenship (i.e. true patriotism), they would do America a great service because the American public is sorely ignorant about these critical matters.
The process of good government should always filter legislative debate through the Preamble. Patriotic politicians with good character will always pursue the broad, inclusive objectives of the Preamble. Politicians who ignore the Preamble are interested in the narrow, exclusive, self-serving goals demanded by their constituents. This attitude reveals the poor character of both voters and politicians. This pattern will begin to change when candidates with good character and true patriots rise up to advocate for the principles found in the Preamble.
Most Americans instinctively understand the concepts of unity, justice, tranquility, security, general welfare and liberty — especially if they are marginalized, exploited and abused. Although they cannot recite the Preamble from memory, underprivileged Americans intuitively expect that politicians and government will achieve these objectives for them through legislation and enforcement of the Constitution. It is on the basis of these expectations that they frame their trust or distrust of politicians and government.
These attitudes and voting habits contrast with Americans who vote conservative and who are not themselves marginalize. While they claim to value the principles of unity, justice, tranquility, security, general welfare and liberty, they shamelessly vote for politicians who legislate against the principles found in the Preamble. The loyalties of these Americans favor their political party and legislative self-interest instead of the principles found in the Preamble. They are not true patriots.
When the objectives outlined in the Preamble are real and present in government legislation, Americans who personally experience the fruits of true patriotism will give politicians and government an “A” grade. They will learn to trust politicians with good character again and again because those politicians prove themselves worthy of trust by advocating for the principles in the Preamble.
But the fact that so few Americans trust government argues that politicians deserve failing grades. Failure means that the aspirations/dreams of the Preamble are unfulfilled for underprivileged, marginalized, socially vulnerable people who live in an attitude of fear, hopelessness and distrust. These fears cause social ills mentioned in How Lack of Trust Affects Society. The everyday reality for many — maybe most — Americans is that the Constitution — especially the Preamble — is an unfulfilled promise that leaves them disappointed, anxious and angry. This is why they organize and protest. Democracy does not work for them.
Anyone who observes America’s social/political dysfunction would agree that it is silly, shortsighted, absurd and perhaps even crazy to believe that problems will be solved by politicians doing the people’s business the way it has always been done. Something needs to change. And that something is not just new and different politicians in Washington and state houses of government. If Americans truly believe that democracy has the potential to provide liberty and justice for all, they would purposely vote for politicians with good character — not for incumbents they don’t trust.
Clearly, the issue of character doesn’t enter into the minds of most Americans’ during election seasons — except when they think about the character of politicians and people who belong to the other party. They believe that their candidates are sane, logical and moral while candidates of the other party are stupid, have poor character and are leading the country in the wrong direction. This explains America’s political polarization.
Americans are stuck in the cycle of voting for politicians they don’t really trust in a political system they also don’t trust. Reversal of this cycle hinges on educating an electorate of true patriots who will elect politicians with good character.
The First Step Toward Building Trust: Educate True Patriots
Other Steps Needed to Build Trust
Once educated, true patriots must do the following:
Educate Americans on the qualities of true patriotism and the principles of good and poor character.
Encourage media to report on the qualities of true patriotism.
Encourage media to report on politics and government through the lens of character.
Recruit candidates for political office who have good character.
Candidates campaign on themes consistent with the Preamble to the Constitution.
True patriots vote politicians with good character into office.
True patriots monitor politicians’ performance in office with respect to the principles of the Preamble to the Constitution.
True politicians vote out incumbents who do not fulfill their oath of office obligations regarding the Preamble to the Constitution.
This is a totally new and unconventional way of doing democracy. It is not a quick fix solution, and it will not be welcomed by politicians, parties and voters who proudly believe that they are true patriots, have good character and know what is best for America. This kind of hubris is a key indicator of poor character.
As Americans learn to recognize true patriotism and good and poor character in themselves and others, they will eventually stop blaming others for America’s problems and accept that they personally contribute to those problems. People with good character do not blame others for problems they create. People with good character take responsibility for their own shortcomings. Fake patriots and people with poor character always blame others. If Americans are not educated to these realities, life in America will never change for the better.
The cycle of blaming politicians and others for problems cannot be broken until four things happen:
Americans educate themselves about True Patriotism
Americans study their own character and the character of elected officials.
Americans apply what they know about character when choosing elected officials.
Americans stop choosing elected officials on the basis of campaign rhetoric and party loyalty.
Unpatriotic voters with poor character are both instigators and victims of distrust. They are instigators in the sense that they do not inform themselves about the character of political candidates and do not elect trustworthy politicians with good character. They are victims in the sense that they live with the social/political/economic problems that politicians with poor character create.
The inescapable fact is that legislators with poor character pass bad legislation that benefits some people while hurting others. These results are not consistent with the goals and aspirations of the Preamble to the Constitution:
Form a more perfect Union that is not divided along racial, social, economic, political, religious or educational lines
Establish Justice for all Americans
Insure domestic Tranquility for all Americans
Provide for the common defense
Promote the general Welfare for all Americans
Secure the Blessings of Liberty for current and future generations
Legislation passed by politicians with poor character does not pursue these goals. Legislation passed by politicians with poor character is effectively a bribe for future campaign money and votes that will return those politicians to their profitable seats in government. Historically, this is how American democracy works. It has to stop.
The alternative to this pattern is for voters to vet legislators with good character who will pass legislation consistent with the Preamble which will always be good for all Americans. This may be a “pie in the sky” aspiration, but It is a simple, concise summary of the reasons colonial revolutionists fought and died for freedom from tyranny. It is correct to say that these revolutionists were true patriots with good character.
Resources for further study:
Pew Research Center: Key findings about Americans’ declining trust in government and each other
Pew Research Center: Trust and Distrust in America
VIA Institute on Character: 24 Character Strengths
University of Chicago News: Why public distrust could prove ‘corrosive’ to U.S. democracy
Max Planck Society: How Distrust Harms Society
SIMPPLR: Bad leadership: 10 traits to avoid — and lessons bad leaders can teach us
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