The above article points out the a clear majority (64%) of Nebraska citizens oppose the Democratic health care reform legislation. Without getting into an off topic discussion of the merits of the legislation, my question is, does an elected official like Senator Nelson have an obligation to vote his conscience even if it is in clear conflict with the will of the people he represents? Why or why not?
Elite From Hong Kong, joined Jun 2006, 2760 posts, RR: 10 Reply 1, posted (3 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 1006 times:
Citizens elect politicians into office because they believe that the particular official will stand a certain way on certain issues. The politician's duty is to vote whatever he believes is right; that is what is expected of him. If the constituents are not happy with the decision of the elected official, they can and will vote for another candidate come election time. It is not a duty for a politician to vote always on the will of the people he represents.
What Senator Nelson is doing here will upset many people, but that is what he believes in. Come election time, those who disagree will vote against him, those who agree will vote for him. Or, they will agree with him on everything else and continue to vote for him. Ultimately, once a politician is voted into office, he is pretty much free to make his own decisions, but he will have to bear with the repercussions.
Tiger119 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1919 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 980 times:
Quoting Gatorfan (Thread starter): have an obligation to vote his conscience even if it is in clear conflict with the will of the people he represents?
Quoting Elite (Reply 1): The politician's duty is to vote whatever he believes is right; that is what is expected of him. If the constituents are not happy with the decision of the elected official, they can and will vote for another candidate come election time. It is not a duty for a politician to vote always on the will of the people he represents
- A big problem with the electorate of the U.S. is that many have short memories! I try to keep a journal during the year and go through it when deciding who to vote for come election time.
Cold and rainy in HFY,
David
Flying is the second greatest thrill known to mankind, landing is the first!
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 330 posts, 
From Hong Kong, joined Jun 2006, 2760 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
