When I hear politicians tell me what "The American People Want," I can't help but come to the conclusion that they somehow think they are something different than the rest of us. As if we are owned or surviving at their whim or at their mercy. Needless to say, it makes my blood boil when I hear it. Early in this election cycle, it was almost exclusivley used by Tea Baggers and ultra right wing republicans. (The republicans being most likely to claim ownership or stewarship over the rest of us!) But now, the phrase has been co-opted by liberals, centrists and people who clean bathrooms in State and Federal buildings. It's insulting. It's condescending. And unfortunately, people buy it.

First of all, it presupposes that the person saying it assumes there is a singleminded view on all topics, that all of "The American People" share the same position on all issues, and that the speaker somehow knows exactly what those views and positions are. When someone from the "other side' uses the phrase, the pure lunacy of saying it becomes obvious. "We the People" was never meant to mean we the people who are here to be counted and unheard. Nobody speaks for all people on all issues. Nobody should allow anyone to make it appear as if they do. Without commenting on my agreement or disagreement with Tea Party or Rebuplican members, I am amazed at the singleminded responses they have for all issues. No descent. No straying from the party line. Absolutley no novel or individual thought from anyone. The very idea that republicans are determined to block ANY legislation proposed by the current administration, and that virutally all cases not even one of them has a different opinion on any of these subjects defies logic and reason. And what is worse, it demonstrates that these people are not there to govern or to work for the very people they purport to reresent. Instead, they approach every issue with the same obstruction. All with the stated intent of doing what "The American People" want. Well guess what. That's NOT what The American People want.

The American People want legislators who want to find the common ground on issues that face us daily. We want jobs. We want to make sure that what is left of our investments and IRA's and real estate is protected from powerful lobbies and special interests. We want our kids to be educated and for our government to make sure our teachers are given the tools and supplies they need to make sure they are. We want our elderly, our sick and our innocents to be provided with guaranteed universal health care. We don't want to continute to be ripped off by insurance companies, pharmas, doctors and other medical supply/care facilities. We don't want our government to cave in to religious fanatics who somehow think the first amendment does not apply to THEIR religion. We do not want to be ruled by a theocracy, and we don't want religion to creep into our law. We want people who love eachother to have the right to do so, regardless of their "orientation" to do so. We want our brave troops to have the right to serve their country proudly without having to lie about who they are. We want a congress that will stop pursuing petty issues like the birthpace of our President and focus instead on the issues I've already mentioned and the myriad of others I have not. We want our government to respond to our needs and in our best interests. Not the artificial interests created by corporate structure. And finally, we want our government to know that we are all individuals who have different needs and concerns that need to be addressed and considered. The government needs to know that when we elect an official...a senator, a representative or a President...we have spoken. And no opposing group has the right to "take the country back" from us. Becasue each and every one of us can and should claim that it is our country. And we all should assert that fact that NOBODY can take it away from us. Least of all elected officials who are there to protect and serve the union. Not their special interests.

So the next time Sharon Angle or John Boehner or Nancy Pelosi claim that they speak for the American People, they should read what I just posted here and listen to what the REAL American People are saying. They must hear what we all say, what we all feel and what we all need. Not what they think we all need. After they do this, then, and only then, will they have the right to say they speak for The American People.