Dear editor:
I recently attended the faux town hall in Buffalo, Wyoming, where Congresswoman Harriet Hageman 'held court'- or maybe it was a Mass?
As is the new fad for Trump'ism, she had placed an enormous cross around her neck. She favors turquoise jewelry, with which she seems to be making some kind of earthy cultural statement. My right -wing neighbor calls her 'nothing but a fancy fishing lure. '
The definition of 'town hall' is a dialogue, a conversation between an elected official and her constituents. This was more like a 'town gall;' no one but HH was allowed to speak.
We, the lowly voters, were to have posed our questions on index cards, in advance, which she, finally, pulled from a lucite box. This voiceless method was only apparent as people, who had registered to be in attendance, filed in.
I say 'finally' because the first half or more of the 'hall' was a monologue of her accomplishments, a self congratulatory campaign speech if you will.
Some attendees clapped, others booed, there were shakes of the head both for and against. HOWEVER, no avenue such as a microphone, an audience step, or any other civilized tool was provided for people to actually SPEAK, question, voice concerns, nothing.
This boorish monopoly is not a town hall.
I kept my hand raised for the duration of the speech.
I approached HH at the end, voiced my dissatisfaction with the format and her pandering tone, a tone that is crudely dismissive out of hand to anyone who might disagree and want to SAY so...and she told me, You can have your own town hall.
Well, shoot. I guess she, a civil servant, is neither civil, nor willing to serve.
Congresswoman Hageman, you represent ALL of the citizens of Wyoming, not just those who voted for you.
Do your job.
Sincerely,
Joanne D. Brings
Buffalo
