WASHINGTON (The Independent) – Americans are among the most dissatisfied with their government, according to a new survey of advanced countries by Pew Research Centre survey.
Eighty five percent of adults in U.S. who were surveyed wanted significant changes in their political system, while 76 percent wanted changes to the healthcare system and 66 percent wanted major changes in the economy, The Independent reported.
The survey, which was conducted across 17 advanced economies in February 2021, comes as countries across the world grapple with the COVID pandemic, and shows the impact of the coronavirus crisis on attitudes toward democracy and social reform.
“A median of 56% believe their political system needs major changes or needs to be completely reformed,” the survey found.
“Roughly two-thirds or more hold this view in Italy, Spain, the United States, South Korea, Greece, France, Belgium and Japan,” it added.
Citizens in 13 of the 17 surveyed countries said that their political systems needed major changes.
While 85 percent of surveyed Americans called for complete political reform, the numbers were worse in Italy (89 percent) and Spain (86 percent).
Despite the large number of Americans calling for changes in the political system, not many were hopeful — a trend reflected in other countries as well. At least 58 percent of Americans and South Koreans said that they were skeptical of changes to the political system. Respondents in Italy (73 percent), Spain (64 percent) and Greece (58 percent) expressed similar views.
Only 41 percent of Americans are satisfied with how the democracy is functioning, the survey revealed.
The U.S. also had the second largest number of citizens calling for changes in healthcare. As many as 76 percent of surveyed Americans wanted changes in healthcare system, second only to Greece,

where 77 percent sought healthcare reforms.
Among the surveyed Americans, more Democrats or Democrat-leaning independents wanted healthcare reforms in comparison to Republicans or Republican-leaning independents.
The survey also showed widespread discontent among Americans about economic recovery. Nearly 66 percent in the U.S. expressed discontent with the economy. Only citizens in Italy (85 percent), Greece (84 percent), Spain (83 percent) and South Korea (72 percent) were more dissatisfied with the economy than Americans, the survey found.
It also revealed that in the U.S., 80 percent of Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents think that major economic recovery is needed in comparison to 50 percent of Republican and Republican-leaning independents.