many moons ago one of my friends worked the phones for a maryland congressman, and the calls he would get about the ACA were countless and gut wrenching, but it did make him even more in favor of actual universal healthcare (the congressman not so much)
Having to hear somethings firsthand can affect you like that. The same things heard second hand by someone with no real bested interest in people's concerns sadly doesn't have the same effect. Should make the Congress members field some calls themselves every month