Both parties have lost confidence and trust in public's political wisdom % political very great/good deal of trust and confidence in political very great/good wisdom of American people
Increasingly, Americans even express less confidence in their own collective political wisdom. Just 34% say they have a very great deal or good deal of confidence in the wisdom of the American people when it comes to making political decisions, while 63% have little or no confidence. In January 2007, these opinions were almost the reverse – 57% had at least a good deal of confidence in the political wisdom of the people, while 41% did not.
The loss of confidence cuts across the political spectrum: 36% of Republicans have at least a great deal of confidence in the public’s political wisdom; 61% did so in 2007. The decline has been about as large among Democrats (57% then, 37% now).
Both parties have lost confidence and  | trust in public's political wisdom  | % political very great/good deal of trust and confidence in  | political very great/good wisdom of American people  | Rep/Ln R Dem/Ln D No partisan lean  | 61  | 51  | 58  | 37  | 36  | 0 23  | 1997  | 2007  | 2015  | Survey conducted Aug 27-Oct. 4 2015. Q12.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 