Do you agree with this statement?

[senseandsensibility]

Politicians work for us.

Regardless of how much we like them (and Obama is very likable), or how good their intentions are, they need to show us through their policies and appointments that our interests are paramount.

I do like President Obama. I voted for him twice.

However, I am very disappointed (even beyond disappointed, I'm afraid) in some of his policies.

Am I supposed to "shut up" because his job is hard? Of course it's hard. He's the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Or because the repugs are unfair and corrupt? That goes without saying. But the answer is to call them on it at every turn.

Do politicians work for us? Are they subject to our criticism? And if not, why not?

[treestar]

1. Us includes everybody

who votes. That's going to mean you don't get what you want all the time. Especially from the President.

have your Senators and Congress person worked for you? Or have you even looked into that? And they work for everyone in the state, so every they won't always do what you want. "Us" is every voter in the state.

Also the governor and the state representatives.

I unfortunately live in a state district where the Democrats don't even bother to run candidates for the state house. I suppose my representative there works for me though a Republican. It's very frustrating to not vote for that most local of elections, so I write someone in.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. 'US' should be a reference to human citizens.

Politicians shouldn't 'work for' corporations, unless you're in a fascist country. In a democracy, they should be working for humans.

And yeah, they do work for all of us, which is why they shouldn't be doing things to attempt to hurt any of us, or make it easier for corporations to do things that hurt humans.

(And I'd be amazed and delighted if I EVER got what I wanted from politicians. 'All the time'? Simply ludicrous. Once in a blue moon would be fantastic.)

[senseandsensibility]

4. Of course I've looked into that.

Why would you think I haven't?

[cheapdate]

3. Obviously "politicians" is an extremely broad generalization

Last edited Sat Mar 22, 2014, 08:16 PM - Edit history (1)

no different from asking "...are lawyers crooked?".

There are dedicated politicians such as Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, Sherrod Brown, Bernie Sanders, Daniel Akaka, Ed Markey, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, Al Franken, Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar and others working hard to create sane, compassionate, and progressive public policy that serves the public.

Then there are conservative politicians who work for policies that while you or I don't agree, they sincerely believe are in the public interest.

And then there are those cretins who betray the public trust and work for policies that serve only themselves and narrow interests of the wealthy and powerful.

There will always be politicians. No organized society and certainly no populous modern state can exist without them. I think it's important to distinguish the good ones from the bad ones. Generalizations are sometimes necessary but it's important to not lose sight of the fact that generalizations aren't reality.

[yeoman6987]

5. Yes they work for us

The problem I have seen in my relative short time here is the criticism for the President is really personal jabs. I don't think people mind disagreements with the President but when it looks like RW negativity or bashing then it rattles people rightfully so.

[MiniMe]

6. They are supposed to work for we the people

But now they more work for the people with money who can donate to their PACS and campaigns.

[TheKentuckian]

7. Of course