"They may then be willing to cast principled votes based on an educated understanding of the public interest in the face of polls suggesting that the public itself may have quite a different understanding of where its interest lies"

This quote by James L. Buckley recommends that elected authorities must be willing to make decisions based on their own understanding of what is in the general public's best interest, even if the public opinion surveys suggest that the general public might have a different opinion. He is suggesting that chosen officials should be informed and notified on the problems and make choices based on their own understanding of the general public interest, rather than simply following the viewpoint of the public. This quote emphasizes the significance of elected authorities being well-informed and informed on the concerns, and making decisions based upon their own understanding of what remains in the public's best interest, instead of just following the viewpoint of the public.