billroper | (Reply)

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I look at it from a different perspective. The ones who keep getting elected have spent the most time living in a bubble world, where their input is from lobbyists and government officials, and this diminishes their understanding of how the real world works. They're also the most adept at deal-making to buy votes.

I don't think they're predominantly the most extreme members, in the sense of having a strong set of ideas. People like that tend to get removed from office when their ideas go out of fashion. If they're really "extreme" in their beliefs, they'll stand by them even if it costs them votes. Rather, seniority goes to the ones who'll adapt themselves to each trend that comes along. A good example would be the ones who hated intrusion on privacy when Clinton was pushing the Clipper Chip, but now claim all kinds of intrusions are necessary to keep us safe. They'll yell loudly for the most ridiculous causes, but they don't particularly believe in them. What they believe in is getting re-elected.