.... it's not because Congress is out of touch with the public that "we are nearing that point". The American public which is angry is angry because they themselves are (a) largely out of touch with other segments of the American public; and/or (b) want to be out of touch with other segments of the American public; and/or (c) don't believe in the utility of being "led" except by the like-mindedly angry. The result is that Congress is largely incapacitated and unwilling to lead -- and the problem gets worse as the committee staff increasingly becomes the divided domain of the "faithful" for the "faithful".