Congratulations to Scott Brown and his team!

Scott Brown's election to the United States Senate is not just a  victory for the people of Massachusettes, it is a victory for all  Americans over Washington arrogance, elitism, and backroom deals.

It is a victory for every independent thinker in the United States who holds freedom, ethics, and integrity in higher esteem than divisive partisan politics. Yes, Scott Brown is Republican, and as a fellow Republican I'm rightfully proud of his accomplishment in that role, but the issues and values that Senator Brown stood for, the ones that put him in the people's seat, transcend any two-party system.

They are not Republican issues, they are American issues. They go to the very heart of our system of government. They are about  transparency, honesty, and respect by public servants toward the public they are elected to serve. They are about elected representatives understanding what the word "representative" means, and actually listening to the voice of their constituents.

The American people told their so-called representatives at a rate of up to 300-to-1 not to pass the TARP bill. They were ignored. Why? To serve the biggest banking interests on Wall Street, and bail those corporations out from the consequences of their own folly and destructive greed. And how was it done? By taking money out of the pockets of the very people who shouted "No!" but were ignored.

If America is governed only for the wealthy special interests, it is not governed at all, because the wealthy special interests do not make up the majority of our nation. We must govern always for the greater good for the greater number if we are to survive as a democracy.

For that reason, I applaud and congratulate Scott Brown. He stood for his principles, and the people stood for him. He sets a model for a  whole new era of responsible and responsive government, and I hope I can join it as the voice of the people of middle Tennessee.

Vijay Kumar