Last week, we noted that “whoever won the special election for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts would be your third U.S. Senator — at least through 2010 — and that individual would impact you and your family for years to come.”

Now we know who that individual will be. Scott Brown is the choice of the people of Massachusetts.

That’s significant. In many ways, his election may be very special indeed, perhaps “Back to the Future.”

Like the colonists back in 1773, who stealthily came together, boarded multiple British ships and dumped cargoes of tea into Boston harbor, their descendants came together, in numbers sufficient to upset the ruling elite in the Bay State, and roil the national political playbook of the incumbent majority with what is the electoral version of the Boston Tea Party.

Why did the people choose Brown to fill the seat occupied by the late Ted Kennedy?

Scott Brown did what almost all incumbents in Washington have failed to do. Brown listened to the people.

Americans have been speaking out for some time. But, almost all incumbents were not listening. Many congressional office holders ignored entreaties by constituents in district town hall meetings last summer and fall. Other incumbents cancelled constituent assemblies in order to avoid the people; and several did not hide clear attitudes that conveyed they felt “above” the people.

Scott Brown’s mind set, during his campaign, proved the antitheses of most incumbents. The people took notice. More people began to listen. The people decided they liked candidate Brown’s attitude.

Citing that the seat he would take in Washington was “the people’s seat,” the man who will become your third U.S. Senator, challenged entrenched incumbents during the race stating, “One thing is clear, voters do not want the trillion-dollar health care bill that is being forced on the American people. This bill is not being debated openly and fairly. It will raise taxes, hurt Medicare, destroy jobs and run our nation deeper into debt. It is not in the interest of our state or country; we can do better.”

That’s why Brown won. America’s citizens know we can do better. And, most voters want us to do better.

During his victory address election night, unabashedly, Brown focused on President Obama and majority Democrats in Congress saying: “We had the machine scared and scrambling, and for them it is just the beginning of an election year filled with surprises. They will be challenged again and again across this country. When there’s trouble in Massachusetts, there’s trouble everywhere, and now they know it.”

Confirming Brown’s prescient observation, one person in the media, playing off Brown’s name, called his victory and what it may portend: “The Scott heard round the world.”

Most others in the media, clinging to their own preferences, as well as majority incumbents went after Brown on election night, laying the foundation for future attacks and political repositioning with comments including: “We don’t know much about him and his family,” “he took advantage of voter discontent” and “the administration now has to pivot to jobs and the economy.”

Could it be that both the Washington political majority and the media majority still don’t get it?

Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, Scott Brown, America’s newest U.S. Senator, who will hold the seat previously occupied by John Quincy Adams and President John F. Kennedy, among others, described his winning approach.

“I met with people, looked them in the eye, shook their hand, and asked them for their vote. I didn’t worry about their party affiliation, and they didn’t worry about mine. It was simply shared conviction that brought us all together.”

Could it be that your third U.S. Senator reads and reflects on our country’s history? After all, shared conviction prompted the Massachusetts colonists to act in 1773.

Shared conviction motivated their descendants to come together for an encore performance last week. Will shared conviction motivate Americans around the country to decide they want to take the show on the road?

Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications, a professional member of the National Speakers Association and founder of Citizens For Change. He can be reached at Rich@Olivastro.NET or 877.RichSpeaks.