Chart: America Is More Liberal Than Politicians Think
Chart: America Is More Liberal Than Politicians Think
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2015/05/chart-day-politicians-dont-know-their-own-districts-very-well
Here's a fascinating tidbit of research. A pair of grad students surveyed 2,000 state legislators and asked them what they thought their constituents believed on several hot button issues. They then compared the results to actual estimates from each district derived from national surveys.
The chart on the right is typical of what they found: Everyone—both liberal and conservative legislators—thought their districts were more conservative than they really were. For example, in districts where 60 percent of the constituents supported universal health care, liberal legislators estimated the number at about 50 percent. Conservative legislators were even further off: They estimated the number at about 35 percent.
Why is this so? The authors don't really try to guess, though they do note that legislators don't seem to learn anything from elections. The original survey had been conducted in August, and a follow-up survey conducted after elections in November produced the same result.
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That this is a CONservative nation. 
but again both parties and Capitol Hill are now set up so as to totally block (or, ahem, "veal-pen"
whatever 70-90% of Americans (or even NRA members) want: money-for-votes is way easier when you don't have to DO anything in return