Sinposis

PUNDITS HAVE OBSERVED THAT IF SO MANY INCUMBENTS ARE RETURNED TO CONGRESS TO EACH ELECTION BY SUCH WIDE MARGINS, PERHAPS WE SHOULD LOOK FOR WAYS TO INCREASE COMPETITIVENESS - A CENTERPIECE TO THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE - THROUGH REDISTRICTING. DO COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS INCREASE VOTER SATISFACTION? HOW DOES VOTING FOR A LOSING CANDIDATE AFFECT VOTERS' ATTITUDES TOWARD GOVERNMENT? THE NOT-SO-SURPRISING CONCLUSION IS THAT LOSING VOTERS ARE LESS SATISFIED WITH CONGRESS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, BUT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WAY IN WHICH WE DRAW CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS ARE LESS STRAIGHTFORWARD.