Not every passenger can drive a transport or pilot an airplane, but all passengers want to reach their destination. The driver and pilot go through training to excel in their occupation. Hence one could trust them with one’s life.
In the same vein, when people in society elect representatives, executive or parliament there is an underlying assumption that they have the knowledge and experience to make the policies and laws that would serve the interest of the people. Hence such people must engage in consultation with the people not as envoys who would just return to do what the people say, but must take their ideas to the people, if they are convinced of their viability and try to convince the people to know what serves their best interest.
A representative is a leader not just an envoy. He or she must be humble enough to learn to know the truth and must be bold enough to speak truth to power or the people. A representative who wishes to keep political office by speaking what is not in the interest of the people is a populist envoy who is a representative just for the sake of being a representative.
It is hoped that as we move forward society will try to distinguish what is good leadership and what is populism.
