This week, we asked readers: New Hampshire lawmakers can only be disciplined by a vote. Is that enough accountability?
Here’s what they had to say…
“Human nature being what it is, no group should be depended on to discipline itself entirely. However, as long as we have a free press to report on and investigate government activities, we can hold the members of the general court accountable at election time. So perhaps there’s no real need for more bureaucracy to oversee them.” — JoAnn Carlson
“Not really. The fox is guarding the hen house. In this day and age, politics is no longer about honor and integrity and making policies that improve the lives of people, but rather about the power of the majority.” — Di Gioseffi
“No, it is not enough accountability for a lawmaker to be disciplined only by a vote. Vose and Corcoran have both made inexcusable and egregious remarks. Corcoran especially should be removed. These GOP representatives think they can get away with anything because they have the majority in the House. Their remarks and actions are cowardly and smack of bullying behavior.” — Jane Duggan
“Does this form of accountability work? The answer is clearly, NO. If it did, you wouldn’t be asking the question.” — Art Maerlender
“No, it is not, especially when his peers think the same way. A white supremacist is not going to censor a neo-Nazi. Not only do legislators need to hold such people accountable, but the governor does as well (unlikely, in this case), along with the public. Unfortunately, many NH politicians right now are following the same pro-Trump, hate-driven theme, which leaves it up to voters to remove them. We’ll see, though the Supreme Court weakening part of the Voting Rights Act is not a good sign.” — David Masters
“Not hardly, as it would come down to who was in power at the time, red or blue. That’s no accountability at all, only political alignment. I’m an independent, and NH votes largely for parties, not individuals I’ve found. Sad, I believe!” — Mike Blackledge
“This comment came from hate, period. This type of comment should not be protected under the First Amendment because it was a threat. it is time people are held accountable for what they say because we know that when people in power spew hate against a certain race or person, people will carry out violent acts towards them. This is a fact, we have seen it happen.” — Jill McIntyre
“They should be legally accountable for acting against the people who supposedly voted them in.” — Joseph Olszowy
