Why do we still need representative politics?
442418
lol its hard enough to get people to come out once every 4 years to vote for a president, most don't even bother.  Do you really think people will show up to vote on things every day, also think of how many misinformed morons are out there.
812498
Representative democracy is just elected officials making the laws and decisions for the majority.  Direct democracy is not feasible because of the large numbers of people.  Even in a smaller community, you would have thousands of people who would want to speak about each and every thing that came up.  \n\nIn government, there is a thing called "The Iron Law of Oligarchy," which means no matter how much you try to maintain direct democracy, eventually there comes a need for representaties to speak for the majority, instead of individuals speaking for themselves.
883099
To be sure that  no one idiot would have power.  Instead they fight until nothing happens or until they can reach a consensus.  Consensus is usually better than a true democracy anyway.  Why?  (and yes, representative democracy is American, not true democracy.)\n\nWhy have half of everyone upset with a decision?  Why not accept something that everyone can swallow without too much issue.  Like for abortions, no one likes them, but how about restrict them to the first trimester but still allow them?  good thinking, good compromise.
887846
Because elections are about who wins government.In turn this aabout. The allocation of money thru the system (budget), the resolution of values issues and to correct the near perfect workings of the market. If we don't promote party planks and cease debating we have dictatorship.
949227
In the political spectrum, there is little difference between the two parties. It's more hype to keep the respective bases in line, as you state.
793977
I would vote the way that I felt was right.  That's the point of having representatives.  If we just wanted to do what the constituents want every time, we'd have a direct democracy.  Sometimes the constituents don't have all the facts and don't know what's best.
313533
I think that a parliamentary form of government is better than the Congressional system we use in the U.S.  It gives points to 2nd place so a multi party system would develop making a more Representative government.
165297
Why do United States politicians run for re-election (and in Congress win re-election at a 98% rate)? For that matter why does anyone run for elected office? One could say that these people are interested in helping the people they "represent", and that may be true in some circumstances. However this is unlikely because politicians, like everyone else, tend to act in their perceived self interests (whether those perceptions are correct is another matter). The nature of politics (power and coercion) draws people who are power hungry to its cause. Once these people gain power they will do whatever they can from relenting such their positions. For a better and more in depth discussion look into public choice theory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_choice_theory).
250270
the house of representitives is supposed to relfect the will of the majority of the population.  Each state gets a number of representatives based on how many people live there.  House Reps are up for election every 2 years so they constently have to be appeaseing to their state.  This is a problem because the general population is often uninformed and emotional and subject to a mob mantality.  For this reason the Senete exists.  Every state big or small gets 2 senetors that are up for election every 6 years.  This allows them to do what they think is right even if it goes against the majority. The house and senete check and balance each other.
456473
Yup.  We don't tolerate taxation without representation.  Why should the reverse be acceptable?
844860
C. Also know as a representative democracy.
447216
The key reason for having an election is  to show the will of the electorate.  How effective this is is always open to debate.\nIn theory a person or party voted into office by election has the mandate to act on behalf of the people as in a fair contest more people voted for them than the other guy.  Again I stress this is how they are meant to work.\nSo the short answer would be we need elections to show what the will of the people is and to make our officials accountable to us.
3039
Actually, in the USA, we are supposed to elect representatives, not leaders.  \n\nThe main problem with voters today is that they think they are supposed to choose a leader.
871543
Your question seems to assume that candidates for all political offices should represent the constituents.  For sake of argument I will assume that you understand that mayors, governors and the president are leaders, not representatives.  Likewise, let's agree that we are discussing members of Congress, that bicameral beast in our capital.\n\nIf you look at the Constitution, you will find that Senators were originally elected by state legislatures to represent at the federal level the interests of the states, not the members of voting districts.  That leaves the House of Representatives.  Your representative should represent his constituents according to their wishes, not his own.  If you can find one who actually does that, by all means, please let me know.\n\nSo what to do with the ones who don't represent the people they're elected to represent?  Our system requires voters to keep all elected officials by staying involved and thinking critically.  Most of us are victims of government education and thus less prepared for critical thinking than some.  We would rather go home from work and have dinner in front of Entertainment Tonight than to have family disussions about work, the news of the day and so forth.  Instead of knowing what our elected officials are doing, we wonder who our entertainers are doing.\n\nThe bottom line is that we must act as individuals and within groups of concerned citizens to communicate with representatives so that they know our concerns.  If they don't act accordingly, vote the SOBs out.  It's just that simple.
318069
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to get rid of the two party system! Unfortunately, there is nothing currently in existence that would satisfactorily replace it. If we were to switch to a multi-party system, like many countries in Europe, there would be far more candidates, far more political parties, and thus more political bickering. It is unfortunate that we cannot abolish political parties altogether. Sadly, it is simply too expensive to run for a political office without the support of some group. I think a major solution to our problems is the elected officials themselves.
947382
Professionaly lobbyists have become influence peddlers because we the people do not have adequate representation.  We have not added ONE seat to the US House of Representatives in almost a hundred years, meanwhile our population has tripled.  If we had 1000 representatives, professional lobbyists would have a much harder time buying votes.   Look at the website listed below to see the facts.
1170808
We need four or five like any other real democratic country has. We only have two parties that if you look at real close are really mirrors of each other.  As long as we have the electoral college we can only have two parties for the presidential campaign.  So we dont really have a democracy.    And no one in congress is really big on the environment,  thats how they got there, big business.  Most of them right now belong in prison. For a very long time too.