Chicken and Egg

An eternal question to which I believe there is no answer. So, let me pose another: 


Are decisions taken by our 'representative' politicians, over which the people have no voice, ones supposedly made for the benefit of the country or are they made for other reasons - say, for future personal financial gain?


To those who aver it is for the first reason, then perhaps (bearing in mind the venality and hypocrisy of our politicians (expenses; promising devolution to the people but in fact doing the exact opposite; ceding sovereignty of our nation, as examples) they would 'cement' their argument with valid reasons, supplying the necessary and obligatory provenance?


To those who aver it is for the second reason, then perhaps they too, would 'cement' their argument with valid reasons, supplying the necessary and obligatory provenance, why we should not adopt the system of direct democracy?


Just asking...........