Should Politicians concentrate on making Policy rather than attempting to affect People's Beliefs?

Politicians should concentrate on making policy rather than attempt to affect people's beliefs.
Describe a specific situation in which politicians might attempt to affect people's beliefs rather than make policy. Discuss what you think determines when politicians should concentrate on making policy and when they should attempt to affect people's beliefs.
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Politicians carry out different duties in the government. Those in the legislative branch construct laws and make policy. Others in the executive branch carry out and enforce the laws. Lastly, the judiciary branch judges the constitutionality of the laws. Most of the politicians of the legislative branch are elected by the people (as opposed to being appointed) and are, therefore, accountable to their constituents. These elected officials are tasked with the primary job of making policy but must also answer to their people by addressing their needs and affecting their beliefs, as necessary.

Since politicians, such as those of the Senate and House of Representatives, are elected to their positions, they must be accountable to the people. They act as representatives of their constituents and must be cognizant of their needs. When making policy, politicians take into account what would be in the best interest for their constituents. Sometimes their personal beliefs may be at odds with what the majority of their people want or need. If the politician decides to make a vote contrary to his constituent's wishes, he has the duty to explain his position to the people and attempt to affect their beliefs.

Even if the politician need not make decisions contrary to the people's wishes, he has a responsibility for communicating with them on a regular basis. As a democratic system, the US government has the goal of being transparent and letting the people know what type of decisions are being made---especially those that will directly or indirectly affect the people's lives. Being a representative, a politician should creatively find ways to connect with his people, such as holding town hall meetings and updating his website. This does not mean "affecting their beliefs" per se but giving them material so they can make informed decisions about their daily lives as well as future voting choices.

Sometimes, especially during election season, politicians become so focused on their goals of returning back to office, that they place propaganda above other responsibilities, including making sound policy. Undoubtedly, it is important to affect people's beliefs as a way of informing them about the politician's goals and decisions; however, he ideally should think more about the best interest of the people---not his own interests in being elected. Granted, this is difficult to do as most politicians believe that it is in the best interests of the people for him to get elected.

Indeed, it is essential for politicians to make sound policy and affect their people's beliefs through regular communication. Being elected by the people, politicians are accountable to their constituents and have the duty to keep in contact with them and address their needs. However, they must not divert from their main duty of making policy in the effort of disseminating their propaganda and gaining votes for the next election.