Nearly 80% of Americans say they don't trust Washington, according to a new survey by Pew Research. Almost one in three sees government as a major threat to their personal liberty, and wants to see government reined in. Moreover, although Republicans were less trustful of government than Democrats earlier this year, quite recently even Democrats have started trusting government less.

Pew asked people to say whether they were content, frustrated or angry with the federal government -- and 3 of every 4 people said they were either frustrated or angry.

The public's unalloyed hostility flows from what Pew Center Director Andrew Kohut characterizes as a perfect storm of conditions: a bad economy, backlash against Washington partisanship and "epic discontent" with elected officials that found fuel in this year's bitter health care debate.

"Health care reform contributed in the second half of last year to this growing concern about the power of government," Kohut tells NPR.

"The public," he says, "wants a less activist government."