Ideally, the American government should serve the people's best interests. This is why the United States has elections where citizens can vote on the representatives and other officials they want to be in power.

However, growing numbers of Americans don't actually believe the government is serving or operating as it's supposed to. This revelation truly emerged over the past two years when Americans began protesting heavy-handed COVID directives from the government.

As it turns out, a new poll on what the general public truly thinks about the US government today is out. The numbers speak volumes about the levels of current malaise and dissatisfaction in the United States today.

Groundbreaking poll numbers

In a poll conducted by New York Times-Siena College, 58% of Americans agreed the government could use some serious changes. Republicans and Democrats each harbor discontent with the current government, albeit for very different reasons.

The poll shows Republicans' concerns lie in how elections currently work in America. Democrats, meanwhile, have a bone to pick with the ways their leaders are operating.

The irony behind Democrats' dissatisfaction is that it comes at a time when their party simultaneously dominates the White House and both chambers of Congress.

Joe Biden, the head of the federal government's executive branch, is only eking out a 33% approval rating. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of Democrats oppose the president's professed plans to pursue reelection in 2024.

Across the board, 71% of Americans oppose Biden running for office in 2024. Meanwhile, 61% of the country said the same about former President Trump.

Little to be happy about?

Right now, the current discontent Americans harbor towards the government remains understandable. Inflation is soaring to one historic high after the other; there also seems to be no clear timeframe for when this will cool down.

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve continues to move up the interest rates; this measure further puts the squeeze on Americans who were narrowly making it to start with.

To add insult to injury, businesses like Starbucks are shutting down and leaving communities, owing to growing crime. All in all, much of what's occurring today isn't working in the average American's best interests.