Justice

It is said that the government officials we elect represent the people. But do they represent those who voted against them as well, in a meaningful sense? (i.e. beyond the pure legal sense)? Or do they only represent the majority that elected them?

Comments

That is a brilliant, timely question, especially given the current political state of play in the United States --where I live and work. In practice, it seems that some congressman (perhaps a little more commonly than senators in the USA) see themselves as largely or even only representing those who voted for them. There is clearly some reason to think that if a candidate ran on the promise that she or he would advance policy X, then it is both likely and appropriate that, once elected, the congressman would advance policy X. However, there remains a very real and evident sense in which that congressman is the representative of all in her or his district. If, for example, a citizen from her or his district dies in the service of their country (as a soldier, say) or dies as a rescue worker (policeman or fireman, say), it is very natural and expected for that congressman to express and embody the grief and gratitude of the people as well as the government for the person's sacrifice, irrespective of whether the person who lost their life voted for the congressman. If there is a natural catastrophe (flood, wildfire, famine) or terroristic attack on any democratic nation state, it would be very odd (if not clearly criminal) for elected representatives only to respond to the needs of those who voted for them. Similarly when good things occur deserving praise (imagine a group of citizens in a democratic nation make a major effort to combat the spread of AIDs), I believe that citizens of all persuasions expect their elected officials to offer praise even if everyone involved in the praise-worthy action voted against them. Because of this, I think that in a healthy democracy elected officials should understand that they have a responsibility to everyone in the commonwealth, and not just accountability to, and advocacy of, those who voted for them.

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