Since I am not the author, I don't know what prompted the use of one word over another. I have no problem demanding things from the people who are supposed to be our elected public servants feeding at the public trough and for the most part, should reflect the views of most of their constituents. The ballot box and possible recall are the only ways the electorate can hold their representatives accountable.
A wish list seems to put the person/group in the posiition of being a supplicant, dependent on others to grant their desires or not. Demands reverse that position of power.
Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door at Wittenberg University in Saxony. The Declaration of Independence wasn't a wish list nor did the Magna Carta arise from a wish list. We should be demading what we want from our government and our representatives. We are the source of power, not them.
Let me know when "we" have a list of demands that everyone is happy with...of course Baghdad will be know for it's great snow skiing long before that happens.