"I do not like what the Republicans have been up to, but unlike you, I'm not anxious to replace them with those paragons of virtue, the Democrats"
I do not know where you got that idea. I want them all out of office...from both parties. A whole new slate of candidates on both sides. A little idealism and adherence to party principles would be great.
I want a conservative government. I haven't seen much of that from the elected Republicans, and certainly not from the Democrats.
Sorry! I had no idea that I was conversing with someone so naive that you are unaware that there are two sets of rules that govern the two parties. That's one sure way to tell them apart if you've run out of other methods to distinguish one from the other.
And all you'd get is a new group who behave exactly the same way. My guess is that a real investigation would find more staffers than Congresscritters who abuse the system. The staffers are largely unknown to us, and have excessive influence, particularly on first term Congresspeople. They're career employees - some work for committees, and stay no matter who is on the committee. Others work in a specific office, but if their boss loses, they just go to work for some new member.