From Rasmussen:

Fifty-six percent (56%) of Americans believe that most members of Congress are willing to sell their vote for either cash or a campaign contribution. That view is held by 60% of Republicans, 49% of Democrats, and 59% of those not affiliated with either major party.

Two thoughts. First, although to most Americans, 56% might seem high, it is dishearteningly low to me because I know that most members of Congress are willing to sell their vote.

Second, the partisan gap is very interesting. Democrats are 10% less likely to believe that Congressmen are willing to sell their votes than their Republican and independent counterparts are. I credit this to the general belief among Democrats that big government is inherently good. If you believe that government should play a big activist role in society and the economy, then your ideology is more or less dependent on the assumption that government is, or should be, a good institution filled with good people.

Of course, that is a false assumption. Incidentally, my column next week will be on the relationship between corruption and size of government. Check back here on Monday to read it.