In a perfect world, no one at a town-hall meeting with a member of Congress and constituents would shout or get unruly. There would be some socially accepted way of expressing disapproval that is the inverse of clapping. Everybody would get their say, and everybody would have a chance to make their case and hear the counterarguments.

In the world we’re in, most meetings will fall short. But they’re still pretty decent:

A packed Napa church hosted a boisterous meeting Monday night regarding health care reform. The meeting drew some 500 people to listen to — and occasionally shout at — a panel of speakers that included Rep. Mike Thompson, D- St. Helena.
The audience at First United Methodist Church demonstrated varying policy viewpoints. Some asked mild questions, others pointed ones, and still others burst into verbal attacks at panel members.
Shouts of “This is America!” and “What’s wrong with profit?” emerged from a seated crowd in response to statements Napa County Health and Human Services Director Randy Snowden — a member of the panel — made about the overall rise in health care costs since the industry abandoned its nonprofit roots about 30 years ago.“Right now, we don’t have a healthy, sustainable health care (program) in Napa County,” Snowden said.
A shout out of “What are the illegals costing us?” prompted little response from panel members, who answered pre-selected questions about how health care reform legislation would work and be paid for. Moderators, meanwhile, attempted to quiet some members of the crowd.