Many politicians tend to label themselves as smarter and more refined than the public. They think their job in "representing" their constituents is to second-guess what is best for the public rather than listen to what we actually tell them we want. Their theory is that the masses don't really know what's best for them. They think the public at large is too dumb to understand complicated financial, social, legal, and other issues. They think we voted them in because they are smart enough to figure it out for us--not be there to represent what the public wants.

When we disagree with their direction, they don't listen. They are so riveted on what they think is best (i.e., what gives them the most personal power or money) that they don't care what the public wants. When the public doesn't agree, they can't conceive that our position could be based on valid philosophical differences. They immediately jump to the conclusion that the public is simply uneducated on the matter and they think their job is to ramb it down our throats whether we like it or not.

For example, polls show that the majority of Americans don't want socialized healthcare. Nevertheless, our representatives seem determined to do it anyway. I think this is apparent in the reaction of several congressmen to their constituents in this summer's townhall meetings.
  • In a townhall meeting, Barney Frank confronts a woman who asked him a question about the socialized healthcare plan, comparing it to Nazi policy. Frank responds: "On what planet do you spend most of your time?" He then calls her approach "vile, contemptible nonsense." He closes by saying: "Trying to have a conversation with you would be like arguing with a dining room table. I have no intention of doing it." He thinks he knows best, and has no intention of having conversations with anyone who disagrees with him.
  • As a woman askes a question in a townhall meeting, congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee ignores her and makes a call on her cell phone. When asked about the issue on a news program (watch the video), the congresswoman displays the same arrogant attitude by rudly ignoring his questions and using it as a bullypulpit to make her points about healthcare, stating that it's the best thing for America, whether they like it or not.

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