Paul Ryan(R) just said elected officials...

[Green_Lantern]

Aren't qualified to speak for the people of their states...

Don't we elect them to speak for us?

[Elwood P Dowd]

1. He is right.

Elected republicans can only speak for their corporate owners. They know nothing about the people.

[jimshoes]

2. In the old days maybe...

Today it's who gives them the most cash that gets their attention and voice.

[RKP5637]

5. EXACTLY!!! n/t

[Vinca]

3. Then why does every Republican talking point start with

"The American people don't want (fill in the blank for conform with greedy, me, me, me principles)?" They seem to think they're talking for us.

[RKP5637]

4. Excellent point! That's what I thought we elected them for, well, I do agree that

my ultra-republican elected officials here are NOT qualified to speak for me!

[hfojvt]

6. they can speak for the majority

but the majority might disagree too. Ultimately they are only saying what they think a majority might say, unless they have already heard from lots of their voters.

[Alias Dictus Tyrant]

7. He is correct.

An elected official is not a reification of The Will Of The People. They are elected to do a particular job by a majority of people in their state, and their execution of that job does not imply the opinion of a majority of the people in the state, never mind all of them.

Never in my entire life has a politician I have voted for spoken for me. It is more the case that a few of them occasionally say things I agree with by happenstance.