Politicians work for us.

Voters do not owe politicians automatic loyalty. Politicians owe the public honesty, competence, humility, and accountability. The job is public service, not personal ownership of a seat.

Public trust belongs to the public. When someone asks for power, voters are allowed to ask what they will do with it, who benefits, and whether they remember who they answer to.

That is voter authority. Politicians can earn support, lose support, and be replaced when they stop serving the people who hired them.