Reply #211: For politicians, this has always been the most important thing.

[hughee99]

Given the choice between what the politician wants and what the people want, the politician will almost always assume they know better and the people don't really understand how things work. People look for a candidate with the same views, so that when those candidates act, it will (hopefully) coincide with what the voter wants too. I don't think anyone votes for a candidate because they thing that person is willing to throw aside his personal preferences and listen to what the voters are saying.