The good news for congressmen and senators is that they rank above telemarketers and car salesmen in public trust, but not by much. The good news for journalists is that we rank above congressmen and senators, but not by much. Notice that the top five (out of 21 professions on the list) are all people we really need: nurses, druggists/pharmacists, medical doctors, high school teachers and policemen. Those at the bottom of the list -- telemarketers, car salesmen, advertising practicioners, stockbrokers and, yes, congressmen -- are all people we think of as mostly looking out for themselves while trying to sell us something. The clergy represent an intersting case. They come in at sixth, the only ones besides the top five to crack 50 percent, but they're trying to sell us something, too, yes? Guess that means we trust their motives and still want to buy what they're selling.
