Majorities voice dismay on host of issues

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PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 26 (UPI) -- A record four-fifths of Americans -- 81 percent -- say they're dissatisfied with the way the nation is governed, a Gallup survey released Monday indicated.

Sixty-five percent of Democrats and 92 percent of Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with the country's governance, results of Gallup's annual governance survey indicated.

The poll shows record or near-record criticism of Congress, elected officials, the government's handling of domestic problems, the breadth of government power and government waste, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.

Among the findings, Gallup reported 82 percent of Americans disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job and 69 percent say they have little or no confidence in the legislative branch.

Fifty-seven percent said they have little or no confidence in the federal government to solve domestic problems.

Results indicate 53 percent have little or no confidence in those who seek or hold elected office.

Americans on average said they believe the federal government wastes 51 cents of every tax dollar, the survey indicated. Forty-nine percent said they think the federal government's size threatens the rights and freedoms of citizens.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews of 1,017 adults conducted Sept. 8-11. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.