Why does no one care that the government refuses to represent the people?

Question

Supposedly somewhere elections are held wherein citizens vote for the congressional and presidential candidates whom they feel will most closely represent their needs and ideals within the government (I say supposedly because I've never actually *seen* these elections take place).

But once these elected individuals take their seats in Congress, it seems that they refuse to represent what the voters really want.

For example, polls taken all over the country have shown that the majority of Americans are opposed to the immense measures taken by the government to tighten our borders, such as TWIC, National ID, Homeland Security's theft of computers at airports and borders, and the invasive screening methods being put in place at airports.

In another example, polls all across the country have shown that for years, the majority of citizens have voted *for* the decriminalization of marijuana, for both the reason that the government shouldn't restrict what a person does at home on their own private time and also to reduce the drain on the economy caused by hundreds of thousands of people sitting in prison for marijuana violations.

There are many other examples; in fact I can't think of any area where Congress actually votes FOR what people say they want. My question is, why not??? Does anybody know? How do these people get in office? Is there anything we can do about it? Why don't they give the citizens the power to vote on bills, instead of the corrupt officials in Congress?

Answer 1

Well its not a PR voting system its a FPTP/Single member plurality, so its not really about representation its about getting the most votes first, theyll obviously say what you want to hear for those votes but once they get into Congress or the Senate then they do what suits them or what they feel is best.

The taxpayers, the workers and the public need to take the power back

Answer 2

Candidates will say ANYTHING to get in Congress. And after getting there they will conduct the policy that give benefits to the state, not to people.

Answer 3

They represent the megacorps. Reagan dug this grave for the American people. Ahhh, good old Dutch. Remember him?

Answer 4

I completely agree with your assessment. We have the power. We refuse to exercise our power. *sigh*

Answer 5

I do care.  I write my represntatives on a regular basis.  I usually get blown off and don't get an answer, but I try.  And I will remember getting blown off when they are up for re-election.  I disagree with you though.  The majority does not complain about border security.  And I do not think that the majority of us want pot legalized.  Sorry.