What makes some countries happier places than others? According to a recent survey, the essential ingredient is trust. People need to feel that they can trust their government, trust social institutions, and trust their neighbors.
We expect that the other driver will stop at the red traffic light, that the doctor will treat our illness, that the bank will look after our money, that the police will protect us, and that politicians will run the country well and make it prosper.
Unfortunately nowadays, politicians are at the bottom of citizens' trust list in most countries. This is the result of a number of factors, including corruption, broken campaign promises, and poor government services. Look at a recent poll taken in the U.S. The percentage shows the Americans who say they trust each of the groups to the right.
The following is what some famous people (including politicians) have to say about politics.