Models of democratic decision-making tend to assume that voters have preferences, and that candidates conform to those preferences. In reality, voters adopt the policies of those political elites - they follow their leaders. Policies are designed by the elite and the masses have little influence over them.

"Policies are designed by the elite and the masses actually have little say. While models of democratic decision-making tend to assume that voters have preferences, and that candidates and parties conform to those preferences, voters instead adopt the policies of those political elites -- they follow their leaders"--