Here's how it works . . And it's pretty much the same way in either party . . .
If you are selected by your party's committee (usually a "Smoke filled room") then you are given certain access to the party loyal contributors (along with all your cuzzins and other family and friends who kick in $10) who will "Help Get You elected" . . The "loyal party contributors" don't expect YOU to do much of anything. But YOUR PARTY will advise you on certain agendas that you had best advocate in every speech (Unless they're unpopular to most of the Indy's, then you just drop a hit now and then)
Once you're elected, your thoughts must turn to RE-ELECTION . . I mean, how else can you get all those things you promised you were going to do, done. I mean, One Term just isn't gonna be enough time to get it done in . . especially when you have all the stuff the big contributors want done first . .
Now, because you get contributions term to term, you're not "Selling" anything . . But you're sure as hell "RENTING" your services to the highest bidder.
And the only time the Home Town Constituent sees or hears directly from his/her elected representative is around election time when that person remembers that you're the guy who elects him . . Unless he has more money than God, then he may visit but mostly you'll hear Negative campaigning from him about the guy running against him . . And he'll be on CNN or Fox News a lot more than usual, to appear that he might know something you don't . . .
Until there's Congressional Term limits and a huge reduction in retirement percs for those clowns, don't expect to be represented in Congress or even your state legislatures . . And that will take an Amendment to change . .