In a democracy, hostage tactics are the last resort for those who can’t otherwise win their fights through elections, can’t win their fights in Congress, can’t win their fights for the Presidency, and can’t win their fights in Courts. For this right-wing minority, hostage-taking is all they have left – a last gasp of those who cannot cope with the realities of our democracy.

When you have no real power, go public - really public. The public is where the real power is.

Americans understand that the game is rigged, and they've had enough of it. They're ready to fight back. They want a Washington that works for them, i think that people are getting more engaged, politically, and they're seeing through a lot of the rhetoric that politicians have been throwing out there for a long time. They want to see some real change, and I think that's what we need to work on.

It is critical that the American people, and not just their financial institutions, be represented at the negotiating table.

We need to remind politicians they don't work for the big banks - they work for us.

It's a simple idea: We all do better when we work together and invest in our future.

I'm proud of my Native American heritage.