[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

In a democracy I'm sure we all are agreed that the Government of the day are our servants. But by "government" in this question, I mean the word as used in the sense of "regime". I guess I should've been more precise there...

Except in a representative government where the people empower their elected representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

We simply can't have a discussion about government without bringing in some dead guys. Dead guys always seem to know more than living guys.

Certainly, gentlemen, it ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved communication with his constituents.

Their wishes ought to have great weight with him; their opinion, high respect; their business, unremitted attention. It is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions, to theirs; and above all, ever, and in all cases, to prefer their interest to his own.

But his unbiassed opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. These he does not derive from your pleasure; no, nor from the law and the constitution. They are a trust from Providence, for the abuse of which he is deeply answerable.

Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.

Eddie Burke said that.