Looking for something to believe in

Public confidence in many institutions is eroding, according to the annual Harris Poll Confidence Index.

Only 8 percent of Americans expressed faith in congressional leaders, but that was an improvement over last year's 4 percent, the Los Angeles Times notes.

When asked whether they have a "great deal of confidence" in the White House, only 27 percent of respondents said they did, down from 36 percent the previous year.

Law firms and the media received low marks in the public's estimation — both commanded 13 percent confidence.

Higher education dropped from 40 percent last year to 35 percent, organized religion 30 percent to 26 percent in a year.

Some of the uneasiness with institutions may be explained by a general malaise: the overall confidence index hit 65 in 2002, 44 in 2008 and 53 today.

People showed more faith in the criminal justice system this year — 24 percent as opposed to 19 percent a year ago. And one institution commanded plenty of confidence — the U.S. military at 59 percent.