Locked out of democracy

Being a casually engaged citizen of Washington’s 5th District, I learned of Cathy McMorris Rodger’s rare appearance in a town hall meeting at Gonzaga after reading an article in this paper. Within an hour of tickets becoming available, I tried to obtain one but they were already sold out (I know, there were free).

It became obvious to me that the ones who had taken all the tickets would no doubt be those who do politics full-time: angry retirees, fervid opponents and perhaps equally fervid supporters of the congresswoman. There would be no room for listeners, only talkers. No room for so-called normal people who were working when the ticketing was opened up at 10 a.m. on a weekday. I realized that, besides being locked out physically, we are in a more general way, locked out of the democratic process.

While I disagree with the sentiment that elections and politics are somehow rigged and I find that attitude destructive to democracy itself, I think that not being able to participate in democracy on a community level is leading to that way of thinking.

This event felt more like the Mayweather-McGregor spectacle than the Athenian ideal.

Bryan Knowles

Spokane