That's a million dollar question. But as you know, it's always "everyone else's" stupid representatives rather than one's own who are the source of all problems in Washington. :-)

I'd still like to see a closer connection between representative and the represented, something less and less possible as our population expands.

Of course, many people don't educate themselves on what votes their representatives take. Here in Texas, our local Congressman does a very good job of keeping people updated on his positions. I agree with him a little less than half the time, but I do appreciate what are quite detailed mailers showing what positions he's taken, why, and what else he'd like to accomplish (or devolve).