Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Iowa
Related: About this forumWell written commentary on a Rod Blum town hall
http://iowastartingline.com/2017/05/10/after-rod-blums-forum-my-mixed-feelings-on-the-anger-and-lies/"Like many of us, Im new to this level of political engagement. But at the events Ive attended since Januarymostly legislative forums with state-level lawmakersthe mood among participants could fairly be described as skeptical but optimistic. Theres been a lot of hope at these events, a hope that motivates tough questions and criticisms of legislators who would otherwise serve as mouthpieces for far-right policy mills. There is belief here, faith that with tireless participation, we can influence the laws that impact our lives and work and future. Ive left them feeling invigorated, engaged, grateful, connected to my community. Thats no small thing. In fact, its a necessary condition for functioning democracy.
Blums town hall was not that. From the moment it began, the crowd wouldnt let him speak. As he attempted to make some opening remarks, their boos, insults, and other shouted comments of contempt swelled to drown him out before he could get halfway through a sentence. It was 7:22 before the first participant could ask a question, and the pattern continued through the full 90 minutes, everyone competing to be the loudest and cleverest voice in the room. This is not going to work, I thought. We have to talk to him. We have to let him talk to us.
My first instinct was to call the mood hostile, but that doesnt feel exactly right. It implies that attendees are hecklers, unjustifiably disrupting the political process for selfish ends. Thats not what was happening. What was really striking and different, I think, from other political forums, was the heaviness of the affect in the room. Im not sure Ive been in a place so palpably saturated with fear, anger, resentment as that gymnasium was. I understand it. I understand the depth of that feeling. I, too, fear for my quality of life and my financial future when the facts of my biology are coded as a pre-existing condition, and I fear for the health of my community when I see the reintroduction of policies that encourage selfish decision making over an ethic of care for others."
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 2858 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (3)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Well written commentary on a Rod Blum town hall (Original Post)
rurallib
May 2017
OP
IADEMO2004
(5,862 posts)1. I'm OK with cranking up the volume to be heard.
Especially when they are wearing ear plugs made of cash.
Polite and cerebral are virtues we can return to if we survive the street fight we are in. I hold my tongue at Indivisible meetings writing postcards and being instructed to send a positive message but I do.
47of74
(18,470 posts)2. Yeah I'm thinking time to crank up the volume a bit.
I'm done being nice to Republicans. I'm fucking tired of having to crawl on my hands and knees through broken glass while these fuckers in the GOP laugh themselves sick.