When asked to complete the sentence, "More than anything else, I want a government that...", most voters say they want a government that takes into account the needs of all its citizens. People want a government that is honest, open, and accountable. They believe public policy should be truly public -- that it should be about laws that benefit the population as a whole, not the interests of a select few. They want all this, but they are very skeptical about whether they will ever get it.

Tired of being lied to and manipulated by elected officials who don't keep their campaign promises, voters are looking for ways to hold officials to their word. Americans clearly see influence peddling as a major reason why government runs for the benefit of the few rather than the public good, but it is not the only reason they perceive. They are also frustrated by a closed political system that seems stagnant -- desperately in need of fresh ideas and new faces. They believe the problem is getting worse.