Americans are also drawing sharper distinctions between federal, state and local governments than they once did. Today, more people trust their state and local governments than trust the government in Washington. But, it was not always that way. Twenty-five years ago people were more confident in the federal government than in those closer to home. Since then confidence in Washington has eroded, while faith in state and local government has actually grown.[1. Similarly, all branches of the federal government have not suffered a long term loss of confidence. A Spring 1997 Gallup poll found more Americans trusting the Supreme Court than in 1972, even though public confidence in both the presidency and the Congress has fallen substantially during that interval.]