Those numbers are eye-popping. But the trend lines on each of those institutions in the Gallup polling really tell the story.
In virtually every case, the institutions in questions are currently at or near a low ebb — historically speaking. A few examples:
* 36 percent of people have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in the Supreme Court. In 1998, that number was 50 percent. In 1988, it was 56 percent.
* 27 percent have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in banks in 2016; in 2004, that number was 53 percent.
* 41 percent said they had confidence in the church/organized religion this year. Six in 10 people said the same in 2001; 68 percent said they had confidence in the church in 1975.
— source washingtonpost.com