[lucideer]

> I don't think I'm alone

I doubt you're alone but my suspicion would be that you're in a very small minority.

> a fundamental trust of humans and human institutions

These are two separate things. In general, those who primarily trust the former do not place the same level of trust in the latter, and vice versa. Finding those who trust in both seems a rare thing.

> I think if you ask people "do you think politicians can generally be trusted to work for the common good of their constituents"

It's been my observation that many people who vote do so on a "least worst" basis. National statistics bodies collecting data on levels of trust in public representatives rarely post figures above 50%.