FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Yet another sign of our broken government:
Three-quarters of Americans think our federal government officials are dishonest.
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A new CNN/Opinion Research corporation poll shows only 22 percent of those surveyed say federal officials are honest; a whopping 75 percent say they're not.
These figures have remained virtually the same since 1994. And, what's more, people think the problem of dishonesty goes back much farther than that.
This poll is out on the 278th anniversary of George Washington's birth - and it shows 74 percent say the father of this country lied to the public while he was president... that would be the very same George Washington who was known for never telling a lie.
Also, Honest Abe doesn't fare much better in this survey... with 71 percent saying Abraham Lincoln also lied to the public as president.
All this goes to show the idea of broken government has been around for a very, very long time. Probably for good reason, Americans are always a little cynical about people seeking elected office. They don't believe that politicians always tell the truth - because they don't. Also, experts suggest that people might sense that the president sometimes has to keep things from the public.
But whatever the reason - we keep sending these politicians to Washington, hoping they will represent the people's interest. Even though we think they're dishonest. The voters are their own worst enemy.
Here’s my question to you: How honest are federal government officials?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Scott in Panama City, Florida writes:
This administration is rife with radicals, socialists and czars of a hundred descriptions who never went through any vetting process or congressional scrutiny appointed at the whim of the biggest radical of them all. We know nothing of this president... Of course, the elected officials under this administration are not honest. All they have to do is look to the president. And they can be as dishonest as they want.
Nancy writes:
We have a government of liars and thieves. They are in it to line their own pockets, not for the benefit of the people.
Cameron in San Francisco writes:
I almost spit out my coffee when I read this question. Isn't it obvious? It's hard to be respectful and law-abiding when I believe many of our government officials are not held to the same standard.
Angela writes:
What has happened to our country, where lies and cover-ups seem the norm? Whatever happened to honesty, good morals, respectability and good values? Why did putting yourself first to make a big profit at the benefit of cheating others become the norm? Whatever happened to the Golden Rule? What has happened to our country?
James in Florida writes:
They are not very honest at all, and the reasons are simple, Jack: 1) The vast majority of them are lawyers, nuff said. 2) We don't elect people that tell us the absolute truth, we elect people that tell us what we want to hear.
Don writes:
One indicator that most politicians are not honest is their incredible individual and family wealth. Another damning point is how they always manage to find extremely lucrative employment after their political careers end. I am also suspicious whenever it is revealed that a spouse or child of a politician is somehow on the payroll.
Jen writes:
Honest government officials? Sounds like an oxymoron to me.