We The People

[We have fallen into] ... a lazy habit: the unexamined notion that decisions made in Washington reflect the will of the American people and the public's underlying values.  The public has its main say on one day every two years: election day.  The choice is between two political parties that cynically ignore their constituencies the very next day in order to carry out policies aimed at the rich and powerful rather than the voters.  (Jeffrey D. Sachs, The Price Of Civilization, p. 106)  1 February 2012