In the US...what should a politicians role be?

Well with the way things have been going, I don't think too many people here in America have much faith anymore in politicians...So many make all these promises to the citizens of how they're going to do this or that if elected, and they sound ideal for leadership, but then once in office do not fulfill their promises regardless of their own beliefs on how to run the government, or of the promises of reforms that they plan to do...I think many of us our becoming very disillusioned

Well, in my opinion the way its supposed to work is that we as a people elect a person thats belief's match the majority of the people and thats the way they should vote. Thats not what happens though because politicians arent honest about what their belief's are. I think the big problem is that to many people worry about what party thay are from or are to focused on one or two issues when voting. then theres the press always picking one party over the other and too many people just do what the press tells them without doing there own research. Or they just dont vote at all and then wonder why this guy or that guy won the elected. Just my two cents, Take care, Terry

Hello Miamilady, The role of any politician, in a democracy or representative republic, is to represent the interests of their whole constituency. So yes, representative should be open to constituent views, and opinions. However, since apathy is a reality, far too many constituents do not engage their representatives on the issues of the day. So, our electorate have had a very long run of decision making for a disinterested constituency. In addition, representatives should be obligated to be more informed about the issues than their average base. Sadly, many rep's do not commit the time and energy to educating themselves about the issues. For example: look at the recent news stories about how many rep's do not read the "National Security Estimate"? This issue has really come to light because of the '08 campainging. Many of the Dem candidates have flip-flopped so much on the reasons why they voted for the war, that it's crept out that very few members of Congress actually read the "N.S.E.". Then again, we're supposed to be electing rep's who are intelligent and wise enough to have formulated opinions about current issues, so that issues don't have to rule the day for the constituency. Bearing in mind that no group of constituents will agree 100% of the time, the rep is endowed with the ability to make decisions that are supposed to be in the best interest of their home district. As is evidenced by this current immigration debacle, our rep's are neither: more informed than their base, nor listening to our concerns. So, the answer to your question is both yes and no. Your question: " or should politicians listen to what the citizens want and make sure to represent those citizens regardless of his or her own personal beliefs?" Rep's are not elected to be the voice of mob rule. That is why the USA is a representative republic, as opposed to a true democracy. Imagine if mob rule demanded the absurd, like: an end to traffic rules, a minimum wage of 20.00 per hour, zero educational requirements, or citizen status for domestic animals, cattle, horses, and parakeets? Our rep's are supposed to be the voice of reason. Able to navigate current affairs, to formulate a position that best represents all of their constituency. However, I believe the spirit of your question best sums up their abject failure in meeting the demands of the job descriptions!

They are our employees. They have gotten away from representing their consituents...us. We need to find the ones and elect the ones that will do what we the majority want. Voting is the key and with more of us active and not such a minority it would become more a true representation of our nation. Special interest groups are something of a problem also.

Certainly hope anyone I vote for will represent those citizens regardless of his or her own personal beliefs?

A politician should always reflect the will of the people. They should be mindfull of the fact that they were elected by the people. Politicians should have ideas of inproving things, but ultimately it is up to the voter to approve these ideas. Our country's constituion says that we are a nation of the people, by the people, for the people. The late President John Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, made sure that his personal religious views never interferred with what the majority of the people wanted. Politicians should always remember we elect them to office, we can vote them out of office.

In my humble opinion all politicians should come with a remote control and an off button. Duct tape would be good too. Politicians are supposedly elected because they have the same views as their constituents so they should be representing their constituents above and beyond everything. If by chance you find a politician and a brain occupying the same physical space notify Ripley's believe it or Not really fast.