I was going to say exactly that, and not flippantly. Those furthest away from the center tend to be most passionately involved in the issues, so they do tend to make the loudest noise about them. Not pointing any fingers -- I think it applies equally to left and right.

>Or the harcore Democrats/Republicans talk louder than the others (middle/independents).
>
>I'm glad to be wrong :)
>
>>Actually, that's exactly wrong, but I see why you think it. Most Americans are somewhere in the middle on lots of issues, and the number of people who consider themselves independent has been climbing for years. However, the extremists of both parties make rational discussion hard.