Americans are a dissatisfied people. There are few of our leading institutions that Americans have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in.

The military gained the largest support in a Gallup Poll with seven out of 10 Americans placing a great deal or a lot of confidence in the armed forces.

Small businesses followed with 60 percent and then police with 58 percent at those levels of rating.

But 13 of 16 institutions rated failed to reach those higher levels of confidence. The closest was "the church or organized religion" with 48 percent. Our medical system, while highly regarded in some respects, generated enough confidence to rank in fifth place followed by public schools.

Among political institutions, the presidency inspired that level of confidence in 24 percent of Americans, but that was still much better than Congress, which came in last at 12 percent.

Pollsters say the general malaise stems from the poor economy, unpopular war and a sense of frustration among Americans that nothing is getting done, that major problems are going unsolved.

Politicians running for election, take note.