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I disagree. I'll use Mahonri's recent poll as a reference. We do not have an 80% center. We have about equal Liberal, Conservative, and Libertarian factions with about the same number of Centrists if you consider the ones "on the lines" with the Centrists. I think the idea that most are in the center is a myth, one I believed for long time. I don't know the margin of error in this poll but I don't think it is off by a whole lot. An election victory of 52%-48% is considered a solid win.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=416924
As to my theory on why they all seem the same once they get to Washington. When a new legislator gets to Washington, they get a tremendous education. People tell them what is actually going on. They are usually pretty intelligent people (I know there are some real exceptions) and they are usually people that really do care about the country. Yeah, I know each and every one has a tremendous ego otherwise they would not have the confidence to run. And they are pretty much ruthless enough to say what it takes to get elected and do what they feel is necessary once they are in office. I'm not convinced ruthless is a bad trait for the position. But I think when they actually find there is substance in the issues and what is really involved, they rethink what they are going to do. I'll use Foreign Aid again as an example. It makes a nice sound bite to say you will cut Foreign Aid. But when you look at a specific one, you find out that cutting that one will cost X number of American jobs or maybe risk our supply of a strategic material. If you try to explain that to the American people, they won't listen because it takes more than a few words to explain. And your opponents in the next election will pick up a few sound bites to use against you. It is my theory that once they understand the actual consequences of their vote, it is a lot harder to stand firm on principle.
You make a joke about being scared of someone doing what he says. If someone is elected on sound bites instead of a real understanding of the consequences of the issues, that is scary.
When I say "unite the center 80%" I am not implying 80% are in the middle, if a middle exists. Political and sociological beliefs are multi dimensional. However I do believe that 80% of the population can come together under the right circumstances. The other 20% are the extremes that won't be changed, both on the left and right. Of course this is a general thought meant for an internet forum.
On your analysis of what happens when the politicians get to Washington I agree with you and enjoyed reading your thoughts. It goes back to every action having consequences. I do wonder about some of the bigger issues, like what really happened on 9/11 and the real reasons we are in Afghanistan and Iraq. Oh to be a fly on the wall for only a day...
I wasn't the one to joke about someone doing what they say however if politicians don't fulfill campaign promises then American politics will always be the frustrating dumb down BS they are today.
I have Jack Nicholson in my head screaming "You can't handle the truth!".
