You do the best you can with your votes but when the pols get to Washington they learn very quickly that they can be wealthy for life by toeing the line even if it costs them re-election and ostracized and limited to their salaries if they do not. That is why out of all those conservative firebrands that went to Washington in 2012 and 2014 only 4 or 5 are still functionally conservative.
In Washington there’s a term that describe what happens to newly elected, idealistic politicians: Potomac Fever. Once they get to DC they quickly learn to adhere to the old adage “to get along, go along”. They take up residence and get used to the perks of office, publicity and power. The soon become creatures of the system and forget all about those “hicks” back home that voted them into office. The transformation is complete, in short order.