The operational part of representative democracy is that the people in office are supposed to represent what the PEOPLE want, NOT bend over so the anti-gun, pro-gun, Big Oil, King Cotton, Family Moralists, Ultra Christian Right, Miniority Interest, Creationist, Evolutionist, Atheist, Polygamist, Pro-Choice-ist, Abortionist, Pro Gay Marriage-ist, ANTI Gay Marriage-ist etc., etc., ETC. lobbies can jam their hands up the representatives' tulips and use them as their own personal hand-puppets.