Charles Humble doesn’t realize, but he answered his own question in his April 16 letter, “Constituents deserve better,” about why Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler did not schedule a face-to-face town hall over the Easter recess. He states this is something her constituents “have been screaming for.”
“Screaming” is the clue. Not all of her constituents have lost their sense of respect and civility for town hall meetings. But many feel they have to scream to be heard. This resulted in mob chaos at the one town hall she did try to hold.
Too many of the disappointed liberals now resort to shouting their outrage, but do not give others a chance to respond. Those who do try to respond are shouted down, called vile and derogatory names and sometimes are the subjects of violent physical altercations.
I applaud Herrera Beutler for maintaining the decorum of the position to which she was chosen by popular vote and for using a more civilized method of connecting with those of us who want to interact with her, in phone meetings. I encourage her to “hang in there” — mob rage eventually loses its momentum.
