With congressional approval at an all time low, why is the re-election rate at 91%?

I continue to hope that the citizens learn that the two party system is really one party of government and whomever gets in always wins. I doubt the civil war or break up will be allowed. Those people will be tank hammered worse than Waco before it even starts.

Simply, the average voter is ignorant of the issues, and the formats of campaigns don't generally allow constituents to grill candidates sufficiently. Questions from the audience in debates and town hall meetings are generally vetted, and politicians often skirt the question and give half-assed or indirect answers, with no ability for the questioner to follow up. This kind of format makes it nearly impossible to get an honest answer out of a politician.

Also, the average voter lacks the ability to understand the complexities of a party's platform. I'd argue more politicians lack this ability, too, since a platform should reflect the party's stance on very complex, very different topics, from economics to foreign policy to education and job creation. Parties have whole teams dedicated to developing each aspect of the platform; John Q. Public is expected to understand it on his own. Of course people will resort to "dumbed down" delivery via 30 second commercials and political pundits.

Ultimately, this leads to a system where the ignorant *feel* ignorant, and either don't participate because they don't understand, or don't participate because they feel they have no stake in the game. Those who *do* vote have a vested interest in keeping their incumbent entrenched, and those who feel oppositely about the incumbent feel powerless to make any kind of political change.

I'd also suggest there's the idea that money equals success in America. The candidate that amasses the greatest fortune in campaign donations is seen as the most successful, despite any misgivings and indiscretions they may have had. Character is nearly meaningless in American politics anymore, simply because people don't trust politicians. Since character is meaningless, what other criteria do people use to base their decisions? Given the ongoing worship of the dollar, that those who are rich are upheld as success stories (no matter who they had to step on and over to get there), as role models, as aspirational and inspirational figures, it's no wonder most politicians are millionaires with little character.

This does not absolve them. They must know how to change things, but do not want to

my point is, this is all fixable if people would vote the person not the party. even if you vote strict party, put in a new guy from that party. we have to face facts, it is this screwed up because that is how we want it.