Most Americans give Congress poor marks as an institution, yet they often re-elect the member who represents their own district. Political scientist Richard Fenno described this split in his 1978 book Home Style, showing that House members build a personal image back home while keeping their distance from Washington. The same pattern appears with schools: people often dislike the public school system in general but approve of the particular school their children attend. Incumbents benefit from visibility, personal ties with constituents and the ability to deliver projects to their districts, which lets local approval float above the national verdict. The gap shows how public opinion about institutions and electoral outcomes can diverge in representative democracies.

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.