President Obama and the Democratic party rewrote history in 2008 by using the Internet to inspire and unite people.

But they haven’t used the Internet—and particularly social media—to listen to what people are saying. 

If they had, Democrat Martha Coakley would never have lost to Republican Scott Brown in Massachussetts last evening. And the Dems would still hold a filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate.

People are unhappy—vocally unhappy—with the government, with the economy, with bailouts, with fat bonuses, with paltry job prospects, with unkept promises, and with a perceived lack of leadership in the country.

Last night’s election should be a wake-up call to stop talking and start listening. Because whether you’re in politics or business, if people think you’ve lost touch with them, they’ll give you the boot.