Why Showing Up Matters

Because Power Belongs to Those Who Show Up

The First Step to Change? Being in the Room

Tomorrow, I’ll be attending Rep. Kathy Castor’s Town Hall—a rare and increasingly vital opportunity for regular citizens to speak directly to their elected officials. I appreciate Rep. Castor for showing up and listening, because in a functioning democracy, our voices should carry as much weight as the wealthiest donors and corporate lobbyists.

But the truth is, town halls like this are becoming the exception, not the rule. While billionaires and corporations hold private meetings with lawmakers behind closed doors, many representatives avoid open forums with their own constituents. Instead, they opt for scripted events, controlled interactions, or nothing at all. Meanwhile, the media—when it bothers to cover town halls—often fixates on viral outbursts instead of the real concerns being raised.

If our leaders won’t hold meaningful town halls, and if traditional media won’t share what regular people are saying, then we have to step up and do it ourselves.

The Disappearance of Town Halls: How Did We Get Here?

Town halls were once a cornerstone of democracy—a direct line between the people and those in power. Presidents, governors, and local officials regularly faced their constituents in unscripted, often tense conversations. These meetings ensured that policies weren’t shaped in a vacuum but in response to public concerns.

Then, things changed.

Controlled Politics Silenced Public Forums

As campaigns became more managed and consultant-driven, politicians increasingly avoided direct engagement, opting instead for carefully controlled messaging. Town halls, once unpredictable and challenging, became a liability—something to be replaced by pre-screened Q&As and donor events.

The Decline of Local Journalism Cut Off Public Pressure

There was a time when local newspapers and radio stations covered town halls extensively, holding politicians accountable by amplifying what their constituents were saying. But as media conglomerates swallowed independent outlets and newsroom budgets shrank, coverage of local politics faded. Less reporting meant less pressure on politicians to show up.

The Social Media Paradox Gave the Illusion of Access

Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook promised greater public discourse, but instead, they have fractured it. What should have been a tool for citizen engagement became a battlefield of outrage, misinformation, and algorithm-driven noise. Politicians can now post carefully crafted statements without ever engaging in real, unscripted dialogue.

We mistake online engagement for real influence, but the reality is stark: politicians avoid tough questions while we argue in comment sections. And here we are—town halls disappearing, our voices growing fainter.

And the results speak for themselves. Policies increasingly favor corporate interests over public needs. Legislation moves forward with minimal citizen input. The people most affected by decisions are the ones with the least access to decision-makers.

This isn’t by accident.

If They Won’t Listen, We Must Make Ourselves Heard

If our representatives refuse to hold town halls, we should hold them anyway. If traditional media won’t report on what’s being said, we have to document and amplify it ourselves.

This isn’t just theory. It’s been done.

A few years ago, when a representative in my state refused to hold a town hall, residents organized their own. They set up a panel, invited local officials, and placed an empty chair at the center of the stage—a stark symbol of the leader who refused to face their constituents. That image went viral. The pressure worked. A town hall happened weeks later.

This is what public accountability looks like. And this is what we need more of.

How We Take Back Public Discourse

1. Organize Citizen-Led Town Halls

   • If elected officials won’t show up, we invite them—or their challengers—to answer directly to the people.

   • These forums can include local leaders, policy experts, and community organizers to ensure real discussion happens, with or without the politicians.

2. Record and Share Citizen Voices

   • If the press won’t cover town halls, we become the press.

   • Livestream events, share key moments online, and create independent coverage that centers the public’s concerns, not just political theater.

3. Expose Representatives Who Refuse to Engage

   • When politicians dodge open forums, make it public.

   • Pressure them to hold real discussions—not just staged, donor-friendly appearances.

4. Call Out the Power Structures That Keep Us Out

   • When billionaires can buy access to politicians while ordinary citizens are left fighting for scraps, that’s not democracy. That’s oligarchy.

   • The more we normalize leaders avoiding direct engagement, the easier it becomes for them to govern without public accountability.

5. Push Back Against the Argument That Town Halls No Longer Matter

   • Some say town halls are outdated, that real decisions happen elsewhere.

   • That’s exactly the problem. The less we demand answers, the more decisions are made behind closed doors.
     

Democracy Belongs to Those Who Show Up

Town halls aren’t just meetings. They are one of the last direct lines of accountability between elected officials and the people they serve. And when representatives stop engaging with their constituents, they’re failing at the most basic level of public service.

We know how billionaires get things done. They don’t wait for a town hall—they pick up the phone, send a check, and watch policies move in their favor. Meanwhile, regular people have to fight just to be heard. That’s exactly why town halls matter.

I’ve been in those rooms. I’ve seen the frustration when officials dodge, deflect, or simply refuse to show up. But I’ve also seen what happens when citizens demand answers—and get them.

Some will say organizing citizen-led forums is too difficult. But what’s the alternative? Accepting that access to power is only for the wealthy? Sitting back while public discourse is reduced to soundbites and partisan spin?

If politicians won’t make space for real public engagement, we claim that space. And if the media won’t share what’s happening, we share it. Because if we don’t shape the conversation, someone else will.

What You Can Do Right Now

• Show up—even if they don’t. If there’s no town hall, make one happen.

• Be the press. Record and share citizen concerns—don’t wait for the media to do it.

• Hold them accountable. Call out representatives who avoid public engagement.

• Amplify community voices. Help bring attention to the concerns that matter most.

Billionaires don’t wait for a town hall. Neither should we. When we show up, we remind those in power who they really work for.

The only question is: Will we?