"We are all representatives of the American people. We all do town hall meetings. We all talk to our constituents. And I've got to tell you, the American people are engaged. And if you think they want a government takeover of health care, I would respectfully submit you're not listening to them"

This quote by Paul Ryan recommends that the American people are actively engaged in the political process and are not in favor of a government takeover of health care. He indicates that political leaders must be listening to their constituents and responding to their needs. He likewise recommends that political leaders should be engaging with their constituents through city center conferences and other forms of interaction. This quote emphasizes the importance of political leaders listening to the people they represent and reacting to their needs. It likewise suggests that the American people are not in favor of a government takeover of healthcare, and that politicians ought to be taking this into account when making choices.