I wrote a column two weeks ago that hasn’t seen print and maybe won’t. It’s about how weak leaders lose respect whenever they are the first to scream and shout. The White House meeting, which ought to have been private, inspired it. In the meeting, the trio of Trump, Vance, and Rubio dominated the President of a European ally for all to see. My writing may have been extreme, so I kept it private, for now.
On March 4, Politico’s Meredith Lee Hill reported that Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), the chair of the House GOP’s campaign committee, told Republican lawmakers during a closed-door meeting to stop holding in-person town halls amid a wave of angry backlash from people over cuts made by the new administration.
Town hall meetings are vital for politicians to stay connected with their communities and effectively represent all their constituents’ interests. They encourage citizens to participate in the democratic process. They are, or should be, nonpartisan.
Take Minnesota House District 8, our neck of the woods. Republican Pete Stauber handily won re-election last year with 244,498 votes, 58% of those who voted in a district of 727,776 people. Many of his constituents call for a town hall with the honorable representative.
Town halls allow elected officials to hear constituents’ concerns, questions, and opinions—all constituents, not just those who voted for them. They hold politicians accountable in a public forum where they can be questioned about their actions and positions. Town halls also offer a way to gauge public opinion on important issues, helping politicians understand their constituents’ views.
Most people don’t attend public town hall meetings. They seem messy; sometimes, the outrage and vitriol wear you out. But they have a long tradition in our country, and we’d live in a far different world without them.
Politicians and other government officials don’t want to face the rabble they serve, which is a sure sign that democracy is in trouble. Why sign up for the job if you’d rather not be bothered by the people you represent?
A time-honored tradition of political activists is getting people to send letters, postcards, and emails to elected officials. Staffers note your correspondence as positions for and against are tallied, ensuring you get a bland form letter or email stating how important your opinion is. De-spite its limited satisfactions for you, the process is essential. However, town halls are much more effective at raising awareness that people are getting ready to lift the torches and pitchforks soon.
Think of what’s driving the angry backlash. It comes from the lived experience of people like you and me who struggle daily with the consequences of government action or inaction. It takes a boatload of courage for real people to speak up and speak out in public, even when they fear that life as they know it is in jeopardy.
We’ve watched an unelected bureaucrat, the so-called world’s richest man, rip through the fabric of our government. The firings, re-hirings, and firings of everyone from highway engineers and scientists to park rangers and administrative staffers creates more anger and fear than an email can express. A rip-roaring town hall that puts an elected congress member on notice that we’re watching expresses it much better.
How about the pump-and-dump schemes, which play out as new tariffs are threatened, delayed, deployed, and withdrawn? The on-again off-again tariff uncertainty allows stock manipulation tactics for fraudsters cloaked in legitimacy. Unscrupulous people and institutions get rich off the uncertainty. Town halls can highlight this corruption and demand reform.
Finally, the newly seated government intends to restrict or destroy Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans’ benefits.
The over 60 million recipients of Social Security Old Age and Survivors benefits in America are terrified. In Stauber’s district, a quarter of the population is over 65, and 10% lives in poverty. About 44,000 veterans reside here.
Only a moron would be surprised at angry backlash from them, but even a moron should have the decency to meet them face-to-face.
My wife and I chose to return to CD 8 and retire. We could choose to live here thanks to Social Security and Medicare, which collected premiums from us for over half a century.
I’ve been a political organizer and activist in the past, but I decided to pass the torch when nearing retirement. These are supposed to be the peaceful golden years.
But with serious threats to our financial well-being from the Dodgy DOGE crew and all that’s happened over the last six weeks, I’m ready to relight and lift my torch, grab a pitchfork, and organize some much-needed angry backlash.
