Since our early days as a nation, Congress has been good for a laugh.

— “In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.” — John Adams, second U.S. president — “It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.” — Mark Twain

— “The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.” — Will Rogers

Events over the past few weeks in Washington have served up even more fodder for the comics. But the reality of how far our elected officials have fallen makes it difficult to crack a smile. Indeed, public approval of government has never been lower.

Despite the jokes, there was a time not long ago when Americans actually liked their leaders.

John F. Kennedy averaged an approval rating of 70.1 percent. Think about that a second. Put 10 people in an elevator, ask about the president, and seven would agree he was doing a fine job. And get this: In March 1962, Kennedy’s approval rating hit 83 percent. That means those seven folks in the elevator persuaded one to change their mind, leaving just two perpetually grumpy naysayers in the group.

Can you imagine this happening today?

President Barack Obama is averaging 49 percent approval to date. Not so bad, all things considered? Hardly. Richard Nixon, who endured the Watergate scandal, resigned from office with an average rating of 49.1.

Gallup polls show congressional approval hovered between 37 and 56 percent from 1974 to 2001. Since then, ratings have eroded, bottoming out during the recent shutdown. An Associated Press poll last week showed Congress’ approval rating at 5 percent — with 83 percent saying they disapproved. Go back to that elevator. If you were among the 10 aboard and you said you liked Congress, eight would likely throw you out at the next stop.

So what did Kennedy have going for him that today’s politicians lack?

“Elected only 15 years after the end of World War II, the ‘can-do’ approach Kennedy carried into office with him captured the spirit of the era,” wrote Alvin S. Felzenberg in a National Review essay that examined Kennedy’s popularity. “When Kennedy was president, the vast majority of people still looked upon government more as a solution to their problems than as a cause of them.”

It was a time of hopeful optimism.

It’s still there, folks. America may not be as divided as you think. Another poll, this one by NBC and Esquire, suggests there are many more Americans in middle of the political spectrum than on the extreme left or right — they just aren’t as loud.

The survey found that Americans remain patriotic and proud, with “a strong majority (66 percent) saying that America is still the greatest country in the world, and most (54 percent) calling it a model that other countries should emulate.”

“Just because Washington is polarized doesn’t mean America is,” Robert Blizzard, the lead pollster for Mitt Romney in 2012, told NBC.

So it’s OK to be upset with Congress. Just don’t get caught up in the namecalling, the taunting and the extremes. Keep your faith. Work to benefit your community. Listen to each other.

Despite the circus in Washington, we’re still the best place on Earth.

— “The 1928 Republican Convention opened with a prayer. If the Lord can see His way clear to bless the Republican Party the way it’s been carrying on, then the rest of us ought to get it without even asking.” — Will Rogers

— The Post-Standard of Syracuse (N.Y.)