comment: >
  
  Politics have always been about power, the marvel of democracy is that if you want to keep that power you gotta compromise with the people who can take it away.
context: Appeasing the population IS representing their interests. >
  
  Is it though? it is truly in the general populations interest to appease the masses? maybe me being naïve but I think the masses are greedy in nature in an individual level and we have representatives to quell this individual greed and make decisions that are best for the population they’re representing. >
  
  What's the difference between the general population and the masses?
  The general population ARE the masses, no? >
  
  Well, I don't think that's the problem he's trying to illustrate.
  It's more of a prisoner's dilemma problem. Appeasing the masses may not lead to a good result in the long run. >
  
  Sure, that's why democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried. 
  So, I agree that democracy has its weaknesses but I think that's a different problem than what OP is claiming. If I understand correctly he/she is claiming that the democracy (in America) is not working as intended. The point is that democracy is intended to appease the masses. It's a feature not a bug. >
  
  No, the difference here, is that for example, if theoretically every single person assumed the best of all of their compatriots, and that everyone wanted to have policies that best benefit everyone, it would be different than if everyone assumed that everyone else is selfish and everyone's out to just try to get the most for themselves.
  So the way the masses is being "appeased" is sub-optimal, and if incentivized in a different way, perhaps there would be a conclusion where the "Masses" would all agree that is a better solution for all.
  I'm just outlining the problem though, I don't claim to have a solution >
  
  
  they are spending - and creating - this money to appease the populace to garner votes and lengthen their stay in power. 
  
  &
  
  it seems we aren’t being represented at all. 
  
  Pick one. >
  
  I am confused.  If they can only stay in power by appeasing the populace, is this not representation? >
  
  The people in power don't have to appease the populace if their interests are aligned with the people who own an extremely effective propaganda machine that presents two options, neither of which care about appeasing the populace.
  For example, when Bernie Sanders was beating Biden bad in the primary in ,2020 the democratic party via Obama convinced the rest of the candidates to drop out of the race even though some of them were beating Biden at the time. Then the media portrayed Biden as being the only option to beat Trump. even though polling showed both Biden and Bernie as beating Trump at the time.
  Always be aware of being presented only two options when there are clearly more