Voters are convinced that most congressmen are crooks

Rasmussen Reports:

Most voters (68%) believe that government and big business already work together against the interests of consumers and investors.

71% believe members of Congress should be banned from lobbying for five years after they leave office.

Back in March 2009, 84% of Americans wanted meetings between lobbyists and members of Congress either banned or disclosed. That included 55% who believe that all such meetings should be disclosed, and 29% who felt they should be prohibited entirely.

Voters overwhelmingly believe that most members of Congress are for sale, and over half think it’s at least somewhat likely that their own representative has been bought with cash or a campaign contribution.

Voters more convinced than ever that most congressmen are crooks.

Lobbying isn’t the only restriction voters want to place on exiting members of Congress. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of voters don’t think members of Congress should receive government pensions when they leave office.

Seventy-four percent (74%) of Americans also believe government regulators should be banned from working for companies they regulate for at least five years. Fifty-one percent (51%) think that when a company offers a government regulator a job , it’s a form of a bribe.

In 2008, nearly three-out-of-five voters (57%) believed it is not possible to run for the presidency without the help of lobbyists and special interest groups.