How is the public supposed to know if their potential representatives are qualified for their potential jobs if the constituents can’t personally question candidates, receive an answer, and share that answer with other voters? Leaders and representatives must answer to their constituents, or the system under which they operate is no longer a democracy.

Talking Points Memo reports:

"In Ohio, Rep. Steve Chabot (R) ordered police on scene at one of his August town halls to confiscate the video cameras of progressives in attendance, a step up from his overall ban on constituent cameras in his meetings that he’s had in place since last June"” and "instead of public, open meetings, [Rep. Paul] Ryan [R-WI] opted for visits with civic groups that charged the public admission to attend."

According to the Huffington Post, in April of this year, "Rep. Allen West’s office (R-Fl.) reportedly screened questioners during his town hall event by requiring individuals to fill out index cards which were then vetted by his staff."

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, until recently, had avoided participating in debates or other public forums. Political leaders have increasingly decided to hide from in-person public criticism.

This is not just a trend among Republican leaders. It is true of some Democrats as well.

Transparency in government is essential to the health of a democracy – if a citizen is not permitted to openly criticize or question the policies of his or her representative, that representative is not answerable to the citizen and cannot learn from the criticism.

Thus the representative system breaks down because the voices of the people are no longer considered. 

In a post Talking Points Memo cited Gabriela Schneider, who serves as the communications director for the Sunlight Foundation, a non-partisan group which promotes government transparency. Schneider argued the members of Congress should not have fled in August to escape critics. Here's an excerpt:

"‘What's so dangerous that they have to ban cameras?’ she said. ‘The members of Congress are reneging now on their responsibility to hear from their constituents. That's why they go home.’”

This is a trend that needs to be reversed. 

Whether avoiding facing voters themselves indicates knowing incompetence (in that the representative will not be able to satisfactorily answer the questions), or indicates fear of backlash due to a departure from campaign promises on the part of the representative, or indicates something else entirely, those uncertainties will be on the minds of voters until the representative actually faces his or her constituents.

 

Reach Staff Columnist Cara Palmer here or follow her on Twitter.