Members of Congress don’t have a lot of good options during this August of discontent. If they do have town hall meetings, they may confront angry or concerned constituents who ask hard questions and make pointed statements about the health care reform effort. If they don’t have town hall meetings, on the other hand, they get criticized for dodging the voters and being unwilling to grapple with tough issues. The latter has happened to members of the New Hampshire congressional delegation. With New England’s long history of public debate in town hall meetings, you would think New England voters would not be happy with elected representatives who are too chicken-hearted to actually meet and listen to their constituents.
