The system is broken. Our Reps are extremely well compensated. They may spend only three days a week on-the-job, leaving Monday and Friday as travel days, and are out-of-session for extended periods for holidays and summer. They put in fewer hours than your grandchild in kindergarten and it seems they accomplish nothing. Still they find plenty of time for fundraising events and cold calling.

Public Radio provided a good picture. Sen. Dick Durbin said "Most Americans would be shocked — not surprised, shocked — if they knew how much time a U.S. Senator spends raising money". They can spend hours a day fundraising at the phone banks across the street from the capital. They may need to raise $10,000/day and spend hours a day at the call center. Fascinating, give it a listen:

This American Life - Take the Money and Run for Office.