We went to the “Tea Party 9/12 Watch” in Washington, D.C. The sense of commonality with throngs of homemade sign-bearers, flag-wavers and patriotic singers gave us a hopeful feeling we wanted to bottle and take home.

We felt the overwhelming need to represent ourselves. Our attempts to get responses from our senators and representatives have been unsuccessful. Whenever asked what state we were from, the first question back was, “What the heck is going on with Olympia Snowe?”

We responded, “That’s why we are here!”

Among the messages brought to the Capitol were: Congressional term limits, stopping illegal immigration, drill here/drill now, stop bank and corporate takeovers, leave the free media free (including the Internet), stop pork barrel spending, stop cap and trade, stop Acorn, stimulate job recovery by not over-taxing small business and no government-run health care.

Instead, we want tort reform, interstate insurance competition and elimination of fraud — much of it political fraud — in programs without jeopardizing Medicare, Medicaid, the VA or Social Security (Isn’t this enough government?).

We also want administration tax evaders and those who harbor them to resign.

Apparently, President Obama heard something; he said there would be no more corporate bailouts. There will be more protests, town halls, and a more informed, active electorate to turn our government back to the people who hired it.

All the monied special interests in this country cannot compete when the people exercise their power in numbers. Old story. Still true.

Thank God.

Cathy and Dan Bergeron, Auburn