WALT SPECHT: Politicians don’t represent all their constituents

Politicians have corrupted the system away from what it should be. When a politician is elected, they are supposed to represent the views of all their constituents — those that voted for them, and those that didn’t. They are even supposed to represent those that didn’t vote at all. That is where compromise comes into play.

This has been corrupted into representing only the views of those that voted for the views the politician presented to the people. Even worse, some politicians take election as a mandate of their individual beliefs and leanings. I hear the term “overwhelming mandate” after an election when actually there is a very small margin of victory.

To my mind, an overwhelming mandate would be a 90 percent share. So what we have is an individual with an inflated ego representing what a really small part of his constituents want (look at voter turnout, or registered voters). Then that ego takes over and he says the people believe in the judgment of the politician, and they go their own way.

Amazing, isn’t it, that most politicians profit from their time in office? Their family and friends profit, and the average citizen foots the bill. The only reason a politician sells out to special interests is that the people allow it.

Let us all vote and try to shift politics to what it should really be — a representation of the whole population of the district or state that has placed them in office. Compromise is the only way, not voting along party lines as the party leaders dictate. I didn’t vote for Schumer or Pelosi, and I resent Sanford following their lead in the decision-making process.

WALT SPECHT

Leesburg