Rank the State’s Institutions on Power and Trust

EDITOR’S NOTE: Locust Fork News-Journal editor and publisher Glynn Wilson will be giving a talk and making a presentation to the AFL-CIO in Montgomery this week. One of the topics to be addressed in the talk will be how the various institutions in society are viewed by the public, according to public opinion research. As part of a new area of this research, union members will be asked to rank the institutions in the state for their power and influence as well as their level of public trust. You can get involved in this research yourself by printing this form, filling it out, scanning it and e-mailing it to Glynn Wilson at fast2write@gmail.com.

Rank these institutions, based on your perception of their power and influence on your life and the life of the state, with 1 being the most powerful and 10 being the least. Also include a score of how well you think they are doing their jobs, how much you trust these institutions, from 1-100, with 100 being the best job and the most trust and 1 being the least.

The first line is for the 1-10 ranking. The second line is for the Trust score.

Executive Branch (includes the governor, now Republican Robert Bentley, and all state agencies) _____ _____

Legislative Branch (includes the House and Senate, now with a Super Majority of Republicans) _____ _____

The Courts (in general) _____ _____

State Courts (including state Supreme Court, Civil and Criminal Courts of Appeals, District Courts) _____ _____

Federal Courts (district, circuit, appeals, including the Supreme Court) _____ _____

Lobbyists _____ _____

Police (in general) _____ _____

Federal agents (FBI) _____ _____

State Troopers _____ _____

City police _____ _____

County sheriffs and deputies _____ _____

Corporations (in general) _____ _____

Power companies (Alabama Power, TVA) _____ _____

Telephone companies (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) _____ _____

Cable TV companies (Charter, Comcast, etc.) _____ _____

Insurance companies (State Farm, ALFA, etc.) _____ _____

Hospitals/doctors _____ _____

Unions _____ _____

The Media (in general) _____ _____

National Daily Newspapers _____ _____

Local Daily Newspapers _____ _____

National Television News _____ _____

Local Television News _____ _____

National Websites and Blogs _____ _____

Local Websites and Blogs _____ _____

Educators (The education system in general) _____ _____

Elementary Schools _____ _____

High Schools _____ _____

Colleges/Universities _____ _____

Scientists (in general) _____ _____

Non-Profit Groups (including environmental, peace, animal rights, civil rights, faith-based) _____ _____

The Church _____ _____

The Family _____ _____

Other _________________________________ _____ _____

Demographics

Please accurately report your age, gender, race, education level and political affiliation below so that groups in society may be compared in their views on the institutions in society.

Age _____

Gender _____

Race _______

Education Level

High School _____

College Degree _____

Graudate Degree _____

Political Affiliation

Republican _____

Democrat _____

Independent _____

Results from this survey will be compiled and form the basis of a report.