The American People
62Who are "The American People"?
Every night and every day on TV politicians stand on podiums and decry that "the American People" say this or that, want this or the other, need one thing or another. I guess they must be pretty smart to know exactly at that moment just what each of us say, want or need. A really great politician will put his finger right on the pulse of any issue and then...
Well, usually they get it wrong. This morning I heard Representative Eric Cantor saying that "the American People ... " and then he went on to explain his position on health care, using the phrase the American People as if every single person in the United States backed him up and wanted exactly what he said they did. I have heard Harry Reid say the same thing. So, who are these "American People" who form this huge, monolithic voting bloc in favor of which ever speaker claims to be speaking for? I really want to know, because I think maybe at times they forgot to include me, for many times I do not agree with a speaker who uses me to back up a policy or statement I do not agree with. Or, maybe I am just the only one who doesn't agree.
For example, one leading opponent of President Obama said "The American People do not want government backed health care." Well, that politician has government-backed health care, so why wouldn't I want it, too? After all the politicians only get into office because we vote them there. Why should they get the fruits of our vote, and we are left out in the cold?
I imagine that many politicians talk about "the America People" backing up their ideas because it makes them sound like they have a huge majority on their side. After the Russian revolution the Bolsheviks took on that name, which roughly means the majority, even though the Mensheviks had larger numbers in their movement. The Bolsheviks were not the majority but acted as if they were, and people believed them.
So is it political up-onesmanship to claim that the "the American People" are behind you? Of it si merely preaching to the choir?
OK, I hereby challenge each and every politician to, from this day forward, state the exact number of people in America who are actually behind the idea or proposal the particular po0litician is trying to champion. So when Eric Cantor gets on Morning Joe at MSNBC he can state clearly and without exaggeration that exactly this many of the American People back him up. No more grandstanding for the press, the voters or the party. How many of the American People actually believe you have a good answer for this or that problem?
Bragging and lying may be common in all politics, but I, for one, am very tired of it and would like to see ALL politicians just say NO!
I also want a pony for my birthday and the winning lottery numbers.
Oh, and Dick Cheney hauled before a court to explain his actions from 2000 to 2009.
That's all.
Who Are The American People?
Who Speaks for The American People?
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When a politician uses the phrase "The American People..." and then uses that phrase to defend his or her position, I want to...
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It's really amazing how blatant bullshit has become the norm when politicians address the "American people".
It's particularly interesting when one considers that most polls, whatever they're worth, usually reflect the opposite of whatever the politico is saying.
The health care issue you mention is the perfect example. Most polls have shown repeatedly that the the majority of American people, physicians and health care providers would all prefer a single payer plan.
I think it's time to face the unpleasant fact that the only thing that will bring about meaningful change is revolution.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
melshomecorner, thanks for the comment. They didn't ask me and I am assuming I was not alone when they decided to speak for me instead of to me.
CWB: I was just amazed this morning to watch Morning Joe on MSNBC and hear Eric Cantor tell me that the American People do not want universal health care. Yes, we in the majority seem to want single payer!
Heck! We have that with medicare! Our government officials all get it! Do I hear them complaining that it is not a good thing? Maybe we should just take away Eric Cantor's health care and let him buy his own - he surely makes enough money to pay for his own policy!
Butof course he would find a way to explain why he should have, all the while he is telling us we don't. Maybe he should go to Argentina for the weekend also, find a pretty senorita and have her change his mind. LOL!!!
Nothing they do surprises me anymore Jeff. Now, if any of them actually did something that was in the best interest of the "American people", that I would find completely amazing!
Yes and if they actually did do something WE asked for would we trust them now a days??? It is too bad that it is all such a mess and seems so far from the original pLan for the USA...we are doomed...:O( Hugs
All politicians have self-serving tendencies
My personal feeling is that Americans are too Arrogant. They IMPORT QUALITY People from around the world who actually contribute to America's growth and the credit goes to Americans. Yesterday I faced an Inverview for Non-Immigrant US Visa and Experienced this. They denied me the visa because I am still not married. Do american girls fall in love too quickly with Handsome Indian Guys?
I find it strange that American politicians get away with so many open lies. Over here anyone who tried that would be on the front pages. It would be a scandal! Now getting caught with a mistress, like your S.C. Gov. Sanford, that we can understand! But lying to the voters? Man, you'd be sent to some remote Island to do penance in a lonely cell! Ha-ha!
But seriously, if Bush were our president and he went to war with Iraq we'd call for a general election and vote his party out of power. We did that with the last president from Partido Popular after the March 11th attacks on our people at the RENFE station here in Madrid.
We tend to use the ballot box to get rid of politicians who don't do right by us.
I agree also with guidebaba that Americans tend to come off as arrogant. Not all, but certainly the ones we see in the news. Bush had his swagger, which he said was a Texas thing. We thought it was just his way of hiding his ignorance. Maybe we were right. Still, somehow, he managed to win the 2000 election and then went on to get the 2004 election, so a majority of America voters, out of those who bothered to vote, supported him at least in one of those contests. We have had our failings as well when it comes to voting, but rarely do our leaders get us involved in wars like that in Iraq.
G-Ma, I agree that in general politicians want to do what is best for themselves, as FishSkinFreak also says. By its very nature politics is corrupt and has been since it was invented. That doesn't mean people have to just accept it though. the U.S. was founded to put an end to such political eliteness but people forget that when they go to vote. They always vote for the least objectionable person, never for the best person. The lesser of two evils. Actually, the best people seldom run, and when they do, they usually get only a few votes.
Also, Chef Jeff, since I am no longer a U.S. citizen I didn't vote, but I know what I would have said if I still lived there!
Thanks, Ivan, you must be online over there. Is there a seven hour difference between Chicago & Madrid? I think that is true in the summer months. It must be evening, "la tarde", as my wife would say. She's from Madris as well.
I agree that politicians are out for themselves and only when our interests happen to match theirs do we see them doing "what is right" by the People.
Guidebaba, we do get a lot of the top talent. My Internal Medicine doctor is from Pakistan, my osteopath is from India, my sleep apnea doctor is from Mexico, and so on. I like all of my doctors, and they said they can make a lot of money here, so they come, often are begged to come over, and they have good lives.
Fishskinfreak2008, I know you have been watching politicians and the goings on both in China and the U.S., and you are 100% right in your comment!
G-Ma, I wish we could our politicians to work for the public service, not the self-service!
CWB, I know from our many conversations that nothing surprises you, and it's the same with me. I just blew a fuse at hearing one time too many that "the American People" support this or that. First of all Eric Cantor is not elected to represent "the American People" but only the constituents of his district. I resent his speaking for me. I do not support his ideas, goals or agendas. Please Mr. Cantor, speak only for yourself from now on.
Yes, I am on but my wife and I are going for an evening stroll as we often do when the day cools off. I am going to have some cafe con leche and sit in the park. Do you know La Avenida Albufera in Vallecas? We like to sit there and watch people go by.
Good hubs, by the way.
Yes! that is close to where we used to live, about 2 kilometers from Avda Albufera, near the RENFE train station! We lived right near there for a time! We used to drink horchata in the green zone area along Albufera. Tall trees & lots of shade.
You live in Vallecas? How cool! We used to shop at the huge department store just over the tracks. I forget the name. It's multi-level store.
Small world! Contact me off-hub.
Yes, we live in Vallecas, near the Avda Albufera. I don't shop much except at local neighborhood stores, so I don't know the store you are talking about. We walk to the train station, though, and visit friends or take the metro to the central city. I love to hang out at kilometer zero and see the street art people drawn on the sidewalks there, and I love to have coffee at the Plaza Mayor. There is a lot to be said for sitting and watching humanity go about its business while sipping cafe con leche.
If you come back this way visit me. I'll send info privately. Now it's off to bed.
thank you Mr. jeff, for this nice and frank hub.
Thanks, prasadjain! Having lived in other countries and lived with people from other lands I appreciate the individuality of each nation of the planet. While I am pleased and proud to live here, I recognize that there are many other beautiful and great nations in the world. I would rather live in harmony with them and give up the childish pretentions that any one nation is better than any other, and realize that all nations have important things to contribute to making this a better world.
hey jeff, how are you? How have you been?
Ivan the Terrible brings up a great point, if politicians did what ours do then the media would call them on it! Not sure where he/she is from but certainly can see our media is broken and in need of a bailout!
While we are bringing politicians to court to find out what they have been doing lets bring get Obama and find out what his real relationship with Tony Rezko was! Or Bill Ayers, or Some polish Governor who's name I am not even gonna try to spell! And then there is that America Hating racist who apparently has a Church that Obama attended for 20 years! I am sure you know the guy, Wright! Obama sat in that Church for 20 years and somehow never heard anything that this guy was preaching? And Democrats and liberals bought that? And then voted for him? Jeff, thats the American people these politicians are talking about,the truly mind numbed robots the media mistakenly calls the right!
Ivan is a Vietnam veteran, now living in Spain, by choice. :)
America is a big. country. million people from many country living in America. I think various people is the biggest assets for United States. great hub . I like it.
The dissaffected, disenfranchised population is about half!! they are mostly suburban or urban...I dont suspect they would vote for either party, because they havn't yet! the powers that be best hope those folks stay home in thier cocoons of disaffectedness.
melshomecorner 2 years ago
I am with you. I think they also forgot to ask me my opinon. I could not have said it any better.