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The fact that real incomes and living standards have improved in numerous countries and for many individuals stand in stark contrast to the discontent with government seemingly showing up in populist movements around the world. By marrying microdata of the 2017-2020 European and World Values Surveys on confidence in government with text-mining data on uncertainty as provided by the World Uncertainty Index, this paper explores in an international cross-sectional ordered logit analysis how narratives as to insecurity undermine confidence in government and thus provide fertile ground for political conflict and a them-versus-us attitude vis-à-vis the political 'elite'. Alas, to conclude that a stronger role of government in the economy, often considered 'social insurance', would twist results favourably for government is mistaken. What matters is that institutions lend stability to expectations as to policies, government services and the separation of powers.