Political Science 101

I was thinking the other day whether or not I should weigh in on the Health Care Reform debate. I have decided that since I do not know the details, I will refrain for now from adding my two cents. What I do want to talk about is the strategy that the Obama Administration is taking to get this bill through Congress. I want to know everyone’s opinion on whether the strategy the administration is using is the best strategy to get this bill through Congress.

It seems to me that the Administration is trying to convince both the American public as well as the elected representatives of the people that this is the best course of action for the country. I also think a large part of the American public doesn’t understand the details that goes into Health Care Reform, so they look to their elected representatives to make the best decision based on his or her expertise and research. After all, that is why we elected them as our representatives in Congress or is it.

We elect representatives to basically be our voice on multiple different topics that may affect us in some way or another. Most citizens do not voice their opinions about the multiple bills that are passed by congress daily. But every now and then, there comes a long a bill that not only stimulates debates among our elected representatives in Congress, but it also galvanizes the general public to voice their opinions for or against this bill.

Assuming that a constituent's elected representative is fully engaged and understands the details of the bill thoroughly, and he/she feels that his/her constituents would be better served with passage of the bill, should the representative vote in favor of the bill, even though his/her constituents have voiced their opinion against the bill?