This does not make any sense at all...

[MrScorpio]

On one hand, disapproval rating of Congress is at 82.5%…

http://polltracker.talkingpointsmemo.com/contests/us-congressional-approval

And on the other, Republicans are out polling Democrats 44.4% to 42.6%…

http://polltracker.talkingpointsmemo.com/contests/us-congressional-generic-ballot

So why are people choosing to support the very same people that they KNOW are doing such a crappy job?

[HereSince1628]

1. People hate most of the OTHER people's congress rep. they like their own.

It's quite similar to the way people think about their favorite sports teams

Some people love baseball enough to watch any game on tv. Most people won't watch unless THEIR team is playing.

[CBGLuthier]

5. Here in Oklahoma it is the other way around.

We hate the assholes who constantly embarrass us far more than any other state's assholes.

[HereSince1628]

7. There's always gotta be an exception to prove it's a rule n/t

[YellowRubberDuckie]

10. And yet they always get reelected.

I want to scream at democrats in this state to get their asses out and vote! There are more dems registered in the state than republicans and still those asshats win.
But the tide, I believe may be changing because of how ridiculous our legislature is becoming. Although, they might just be stealing elections.
Oh to get out of this effing state! It would be awesome!

[Fumesucker]

2. It's everyone else's congresscritters that are the problem, not my own..

Not to mention that Republicans fear their base and often humor them.

Democrats on the other hand appear to think humoring their base is a sign of weakness.

[FBaggins]

3. Because those are the only two options they're presented with.

If you hate the NFL bu have to choose between redkins/cowboys... one of them is still going to get more votes.

Also... many people on both sides of the fence blame the other party for why Congress is failing. So they can easily disapprove of Congress, but approve of their own congressman.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Cognitive dissonance.

[MrScorpio]

6. That's my take on this

Americans are not paying attention, in spite of the fact that they know things are screwed up. That lack of knowledge keeps them from understanding that they need to kick Republicans out to make Congress function at a more desirable level.

[freshwest]

11. The constant media background in people's heads creates this.

The conservatives own M$M. People want to go along with the herd for their own survival because they're afraid of the way things are changing rapidly.

They don't apply reason, which would tell them the GOP is not going to go to bat for them unless they have money or are a member of their church, whatever.

Democrats run on facts, not feelings that can be commodities for media.

But the visceral impact of media creates a stronger reflex action. Thus people don't vary their opinions as the poison keeps sinking into their brain cells.

I have come to realize, like a number of others, that a great number of people are just the flesh and blood hands to pull the levers in the voting booth for whoever tells them what to do. There are more of them than informed voters, and they are compelled to vote.

They don't think, only repeat what they heard someone say until they believe those are their own thoughts. When you try to discuss matters with them, they keep on repeating no matter what you say or disprove.

The zombie apocalypse in the mental realm has already arrived, and we just didn't want to see it. I look around in horror at what I see today.

[SoutherDem]

8. One is collective the other individual

There is a collective disapproval of congress.

There is an individual approval each congressperson.

If I lived a few miles to the south I would be in a Democratic district. I would disapprove of congress but vote to keep the district's representative in office. Both actions would be valid at the same time.

Also, possibly for Republican's (possibly Democrats too, but you referenced the Republicans) the disapproval of congress is directed specifically toward Democrats. The Republicans feel the Democrats specifically have a diabolical plan to piece by piece disassemble the constitution and destroy America, turning it into a socialistic communist country.

[Tsiyu]

9. Two words: Corporate Media

The media are spending billions to prop up the agenda of the corporations that are Republicans' lifeline to election.

Americans are suckers who keep watching. And buying the bullshit. They lick the hand that beats them.