The less than civil discourse across the nation as members of Congress hold regular town hall meetings within their district should concern all of us. Video after video shows the meetings degenerate, with picket lines and chants outside to shouting matches, and in at least one instance, a shoving match, inside. One might ask: has our democracy now dumbed down to shouting and shoving? More importantly, can it survive like this?

Much of the focus has been on meetings where the issue of health care has been at the fore. Opponents have whipped up their followers into a frenzy of protests through talk radio and e-mails. U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner was interviewed on MSNBC one day about how at a recent public meeting there was civility - a rarity it seemed. He apparently tested the fates because his meeting the following week made news for how it was reduced into a volatile discussion about a “communist” health care plan.

In part, this lack of civility comes, first, from the complexity of the issue. Health care reform has more moving parts than almost anyone can imagine - it is neither easy to explain nor can you reduce it to an easy 30-second sound bite. That leads to the second challenge - the speed in which opposition can unite. Health care looks to be the Achilles heel of the Obama Administration - the one vulnerable spot to hurt the popular President where it counts - his poll numbers.

Still this new testiness at town hall meetings may already be leading to a chilling effect on the one opportunity where elected officials and their constituents can have vital dialogue. One almost has to ask if elected officials will continue to do these events when they have to be prepared for shouting matches and crossing picket lines. More importantly when they do any event of a public nature, will they tell the press and thus the public, enough in advance to give notice to not only those who want to have a discussion with their elected representative; but may give time to energize vocal opponents?

Take for example this Friday's Economic Roundtable that will have some 20 community leaders meet with New York's new junior senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, at Cayuga Community College at noon in her first visit here. While invitations had been out for days, the press hasn't been able to confirm from the senator's office that she coming to the local campus. The first response by one media person was that this seemed to be more about not giving advance notice to protesters versus constituents who might want to take part.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com