A new survey of the American public shows that we hold our government in raw contempt for its uselessness and depravity, while at the same time wishing for that government to be more involved in all aspects of our lives.

Read generously, this new Pew Center report on the public’s view of the government says that people merely want a good government. After all, it is hard to argue with not trusting the US government in its current manifestation (think about the NSA.) It is also hard to argue with wanting the government to provide more services to the public. But read less generously and more realistically, this survey merely highlights one more in an endless procession of contradictory views held by Americans, who will steadfastly cling to all of those views in the face of any amount of dissenting information because that is JUST WHAT THEY THINK, WHICH IS MY RIGHT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

Americans who say they trust the federal government to do what is right all or most of the time: 19%

Americans who would prefer a “smaller government” which offers fewer services: 53%

Areas in which majorities of Americans believe that the government should have a “major role”: Keeping the country safe from terrorism; responding to natural disasters; ensuring safe food and medicine; managing immigration; maintaining infrastructure; protecting the environment; strengthening the economy; education; ensuring retirement income; setting workplace standards; health care; poverty alleviation.

In short, Americans hate the government and want it to get smaller and also Americans agree with the rationale for virtually every major federal government program in existence.

If you think that there is something odd about this, that is just YOUR opinion.

[The full survey. Photo: Flickr]