Why do we keep electing incumbents when Congress has a 9% approval rating?

It's pretty simple ladyluna. Most voters are uneducated. Most vote based purely on name recognition. The guy with the most campaign signs wins. The guy with the most commercials wins. It's sad and pathetic but true. The worst part is that Congress is one of the places where third party candidates really can get elected. Of course most people will never read past the two names associated with the main political parties. They just keep checking off the same name every year.

My Congressmen Vic Synder is as usefull to me as a fried banana. The problem is my congressional district is heavily Democrat, with a large minority poulation. Since 1996 Republican have tried to beat him but does not look good that we are going to get rid of him this year. My State also has a Senator up for re-election Mark Pryor Dem, the problem is the State Republican party has not even fielded an opponent yet. Mark all ready has a war chest of 6 million dollars, so has basicly scared off anybody that would run against him. This guy always takes two sides to each issue so he does not offend anyone. When voring for a time table for withdraw for Iraq he was the one that came up with the idea of a secret time table that only Congress and the President would know. Of course I will be voting against them even if I have to write someones name in.

I have considered running against my own congressman for his seat. After looking into it, I gave it up. Why? It is that 'bringing home the bacon' business. My congressman is excellant at that. Being honest, I would admit during any campaign that not only could I not do anywhere near as well, but that other congressmen would retalitate against me to see that our district received NO federal largress. There are sub-sections of this congressional district that would flat out reject my candidacy on this basis alone. I could expect at most to receive 10% of the vote. So, while congress deserves to hear, "YOU'RE FIRED!" it will not happen soon. Too many people only think short term. These short term thinkers will not fire our congress. That said, I am willing to vote for other parties in different elections this year except the presidency. Obama is too dangerous to throw away a vote against him when McCain might win.

Great post! I've always had a problem with our congress. (Notice I said our congress. As long as we think of our elected officials as a distant entity, we will not take ownership of their actions and not take action on our ownership.)My problem stems from their work ethic, or lack of it. When I leave my office at the end of the day, or the end of the week with loops left open, things left undone, I feel as though I have not lived up to my obligations to my clients. People expect me to do certain things for them. Rarely are my actions that time sensitive that it really matters, but it is a question of integrity. If I tell someone I am going to do something, then I will work as hard as I can to do it. After all, at the end of the day all I have to offer is my reputation and my honor. Congress could seemly care less about serving the nation or the citizens, us. Their actions are VERY time sensitive and live may often hang in the balance. But they rarely if even work a 5 day work week. They leave their sessions with MUCH left undone. And it is not as though they will be back on Monday to finish, they can beout of session for quite some time while we wait for our masters to see fit to get some work done for us. It's offensive. So... 1. YES! 2. & 3. Honestly, I am not sure which ones are up for reelection. I will have to do more research on each of them to determine whether or not they have earned the right to return.

Ladyluna, This is the largest pet peeve I have with our congress and the American people! Why, if we see that they are NOT doing a good job, do we continue to vote them back in election after election? Like Gewcew and Redyellowblackdog I am an Arkansan. I live in the 4th district and have Mike Ross as my congressman and form his website can only gather that he is not up for re-election this year since there are no re-election banners on his website! My answers to your questions are: 1) YESSS!! I am amoung the 91% and was more than likely there when it was just 1 or 2%! 2) NO! I will not vote to keep the incumbents in office! It will probably mean I will once again have to leave that box blank because, as Gewcew said, the republican or independant parties don't have a strong turnout in Arkansas! Case in point; every time I go to my polling place there is a rather large block on my ballot that has "running uncontested" and a huge list of 20 to 30 names and the offices they are running for. All of these people are running on the democratic ticket with no republican or independant to even give them a run for their money! 3)I don't know who if anyone is up for re-election in my state but you can bet my vote will not be for an incumbent! Finally, your discussion really says multitudes for the passage of term limits! Congress, just like the presidency, was NEVER meant to be a career! There are two things in our national electorate that needs to change(well really three but we will leave the electoral college for another discussion) The term of congressmen/women and the term of president of the US! They should ALL get one 6 or 8 year term and come and go together! That way there would be no mid-term election for congressmen or senators and no re-election campaign for a president! They would, in my opinion, be forced to work with each other because they would know this was the only shot they would get! Their political legacy would be determined on how well they governed in thos 6 or 8 years and there would be no do-overs!

1. NO, I am not happy with the job they are doing. 2. Absolutely NOT am I going to vote in the same person again. (I want to look for a third party person who may HAVE innovative thoughts! I am tired of Rep. or Dem!) 3.Have been trying to be heard for years and will continue to. The Republican and Democratic parties are TOO SMUG! We need to start looking a to third party people to elect and SHAKE THINGS UP! A country as large as the USA needs more than just two lame candidates to choose from!!! We need to see ALL choices. But until the TV channels will allow third party candidates to also be heard..we are screwed!(Tired of their views being censored out.)

Lady Luna, That was very well put! I think a lot of people don't realize that Congress makes the decisions. In answer to your questions, 1. yes they are doing a very crappy job. 2. I plan to vote against incumbents this year. 4. My vote always counts!

Well, a lot (not me this year, but a lot) of people are happy with their own Senators and Representatives, but are dissatisfied with those other guys, with their "bridges to nowhere" and such.

I am one of the 91%, however, I am planning on leaving my incumbents in place. And I am sure I am one of the many reasons why most people will leave their incumbents in place. I live in a conservative state and am luckily represented by Conservative people. Despite my profile, I actually live in Indiana. Senator Lugar and Congressman Mike Pence are two of the best people I know. They truly have the best interest of Indiana when they vote. Now, if I lived elsewhere, it would be a different story. If I lived in the following states, I would get rid of incumbents: California Oregon Washington Arizona Texas Iowa Kansas Arkansas Missouri Mississippi Alabama Kentucky Tennessee Illinois Michigan Ohio New York Connecticut Vermont New Hampshire Maine Minnesota Wisconsin Pennsylvania

the 9% that are doing well are the ones representing me.. yours are the problem ones. you should put young non seniored congressman in. mine are doing a great job.

I think a good quote is in order for this discussion: Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress.... But then I repeat myself. -Mark Twain 1. Congress is not living up to its collective promises by any means=lousy job. 2. It depends on whether I think my incumbents are responsible for the mess or are trying to be part of the solution whether I'd put them back in office. There have to be at least a few good souls in Congress. My guess is they're badly outnumbered by the dark side. 3. If I can cast my vote for better candidates, of course I will want to do so.

"Why do we keep electing incumbents when Congress has a 9% approval rating?" Two main reasons. One, the people actually agree or they have some benefit from electing certain tools back to office. Two, the people don't know what (oh, I meant "who"...sorry _) they are electing. You've seen/read me long enough, so the answer to question 1 should be obvious. -_- I haven't decided much for 2 since mine are new now... I'm not all that impressed though. I don't know about 3 since rarely is an independent run for the seats. I do know that even though the seats were switched to D control, there hasn't been much change or anything worth attention.