The Gallup polling organization does an annual survey on public confidence in our nation's institutions. The results last month show our most esteemed institutions are the military, small business, organized religion and the police.

Although popular culture often belittles the military and organized religion, and often disrespects the police, most Americans hold them in high regard. Eighty-two percent expressed a "great deal" of confidence in the military. The Pentagon's only higher score was at 85 percent after the Gulf War in 1991.

Some of the institutions at the lower end of the poll included television news, newspapers, organized labor, banks, big business and Congress. News organizations averaged 24 percent.

The Gallup poll shows the Pelosi Congress with an average confidence rating of 14 percent over the past three years. The latest poll shows Congress at 17 percent, and I will lay out why it is held in such contempt.

In these same six months, we have seen the House pass a massive piece of "cap and trade" energy legislation that many members admitted they also did not read.

Now wouldn't you think an energy bill that both Democrats and Republicans agreed would create higher energy costs for working families would at least be read by those in whom we have entrusted with our votes? Especially considering its cost could be up to $3,000 per family, per year.

In these same six months:

-- We have seen more than 30 "czars" appointed by the Obama administration to oversee issues ranging from the auto industry to climate change to executive pay. In my opinion this usurps the constitutional authority of the Congress.

-- Congress and the administration have continued to allow the big banks to ignore small businesses. I still don't get it. They say big business is too big to fail. But small business is too small to fool with.

-- We have seen legislation to create a federal government takeover of our health care system. The Congressional Budget Office estimated a $1.6 trillion price tag for the proposal.

Ironically, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., pressed the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to require members of Congress to enroll in whatever government plan Congress structures to compete with private insurance companies.

The measure passed 12-11 with nine Democrats voting against it. However, believe you me, this will be stripped from the bill, and will never see the light of day before the full Senate votes on it.

The first line of the House health bill reads ""to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes." What other purposes? Could someone define that extremely broad language?

Also, on page 16, you'll find a provision making individual private medical insurance illegal. Yes, I said "illegal." This 1,017 page document has a provision that would outlaw private insurance. So much for the private options.

This comes only after reading just 16 pages. Imagine what other surprises await us on the following 1,001 pages.

So what is Congress and the Obama administration doing to address these problems? Absolutely nothing.

They are spending our money with no end in sight. With all the spending we've seen in the past six months, this should give Democrats concern about the economic future of our nation.