Remember that polls were out there before the voting began, both nationally and in Massachusetts, such as the Boston Globe poll indicating displeasure that Obama had not lived up to campaign promises.

For all too long the Democratic hierarchy has concluded that progressives will vote predictably on election day for the simple reason that they have no viable alternative to the Republican opposition.  

Increased warnings of displeasure drew no more than a few shrugs, but now that Republican Scott Brown has won the Senate seat long held by progressive icon Ted Kennedy perhaps the Democratic Party high command will awaken before more of the same occurs.  They should be well aware that if such a result can occur in liberal Massachusetts with its top heavy 3-1 Democratic registration that it can happen anywhere.

Remember what disgusted not only progressives but many mainstream moderates as well when Congress began considering a health care bill.  It was made emphatically clear that the single payer system which has served as the model of America's neighbor to the north, Canada, would not even be discussed in the wake of national polls indicating that a substantial majority of Americans favored such a proposal.

Ever expanding numbers of people refuse to participate in a political process they consider a sham.  The current ongoing health care debate reflects what drove them out of a system under the suffocating domination of special interests.

National polling on the health care issue delivered an overwhelming result.  The American people in substantial numbers support a single payer system such as currently exists in Canada.  

What we hear from our elected representatives is that this is a democracy and they listen to the voices of the people.  Really?  In the current instance, where support for a single payer system has been amply manifested, it is not even a subject for debate despite the fervent efforts of a few independent minds in Washington clamoring for such a discussion, such as Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio.

The ongoing process in which President Barack Obama sought a bipartisan health care bill has been pathetic.  Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa was courted.