Politicians decide — so why bother with election?

AS someone who has always been interested in politics, I am becoming increasingly sceptical and confused.

Why do we have elections when we are asked to vote for parties we would like to see in government only to find that in the absence of a clear majority, it is up to the parties themselves, and not the electorate, to decide who will finally end up in power?

In the aftermath of the election it seemed we could have had any number of possible coalition partners and independents in government.