Everyone's talking about the astonishingly low approval rating for Congress (it's now at only 18%), but the key question to me is--why? Why do people so dislike the job Congress is doing (absent a major scandal)? Ann Althouse has so far what is to me the most likely explanation.
Quote: "Why so low, in the absence of a scandal? I think people have gotten more judgmental, and the politicians themselves have been teaching us to be super-critical. The very members of Congress who got into office by stoking dissatisfaction now face observation by the people who see no reason to be patient and sympathetic. It doesn't necessarily mean we're all walking around feeling exceedingly pissed off at the government. It could just be that if anyone ever asks if we approve, we're going to say no. Why should we approve?"
Today's cynicism when it comes to all politicians means that peoples' default position, when asked if they "approve" of a political body or figure, will be "no." UPDATE: I also think Peter Wehner at Contention is correct when he suggests the low rating means: "...Democrats are paying a high price for their hyper-partisanship. They appear angry, zealous, and vengeful, far more interested in investigations than legislation."
