“…Asking the people who are the problem what the problem is…”

Friday:

Congressman Mark Alford
[March 14, 2025]
For the past ten years at 2 PM every day,
Gary, Carl, Terry, and Jake have been sitting on these benches at a gas station in Lockwood Missouri, Dade County, watching the world go by and solving life’s problems.
I sat down and had a conversation with them about where we’re headed in America and what they thought of DOGE. There was no yelling and no hysteria.
They simply said “Just keep Trump going” and “keep shrinking the government”
THIS is the 4th congressional district and these are the conversations I love having with our constituents.
We don’t always have to agree but we do need to be respectful of each other.
I love our district!!!
[….]

There was much hilarity in the responses:

I bet if you told them YOU are doing away with Social Security that they would have took you out back and fixed your clock and your attitude. You’re a city slicker and these folks weren’t fooled by you, they are fooled by the media they follow. If you told the truth about what you Rs are really up to, you would have been out back. Your clothes don’t look like theirs and neither does your shoes. Where is your hat? See it is plain for me to see that you don’t fit in there, no matter how they made you feel about yourself. If you came to my city in the Fourth District, I would ask you why Trump is so buddy buddy with Putin? You would not tell me the truth of course and the next time I see you somewhere I’d throw you another hard ball and you would not recognize me.

There is no town in Dade County named “Lockton”
How can you know your district if you don’t even know what town you’re in?
EDIT: The original post said “Lockton” and I have photo proof. They changed it after I called them out on their ignorant and false grab at pandering to rural areas. My family has a farm in Dade County, and Alford’s big city crew probably didn’t even hear of Dade County before this trip. Shameful.

Okay, that’s funny.

If you want to shrink the government, then start with congress, let’s start with some pay cuts, then end the free health care you receive, then end the pension you get, being a politician was never meant to be a full time job and sure wasn’t meant to make you rich! This is where the cuts need to start. But instead you cut jobs of the middle class. America’s citizens need to wake up and pay attention! Elon Musk is out for is own gain, he’s not even an elected official and Trump is letting him make these decisions. Trump goes and play golf on his golf course, and the taxpayers pay for it and who gets the money, Trump gets it. The biggest con game ever!

Go to the redest places you can find, and ask someone what they want. That’s easy. I was through Lockwood yesterday. It was an easy cherry pick. You have staffers research friendly territory, and then you show up for a photo op. You’re not fooling your constituents, and you’re not fooling America. Your cowardice is making national television.

Safe spaces.

That looks pretty representative of a cross section of America. Asking the people who are the problem what the problem is. I’m embarrassed for you Mark Alford. You used to be a respected person to Kansas City. You should be ashamed of selling your sould to fascism

Amen
Rural Americans get it. God bless President Trump, those of you that are fighting along beside him, and God bless America.

Rural Americans get it, until they stop getting government support.

Wonder how they are gonna feel when social security is taken away from them? Did you perhaps chat about that? How about a little topic called Veterans Affairs and the 80,000 jobs with associated cuts in services to the men and women who served this country? I doubt those good old boys were on board with that too. It’s real simple. Tax the billionaires at the same rate as middle class Americans. No loopholes. No tax cuts. Same deal for them as for the rest of us. Budget balanced. Debt solved. Funding for school lunches, medical research to cure childhood cancers, Veterans services, Free College Education all around, heck while we are at it give yourself a raise. Oh wait. I think I read you guys already did.

Just to name a few.

Cuts to Social Security are coming, Representative Mark Alford . . .

So you found a group of old white guys rooting for trump. Color me shocked.

I knew his MAGA cronies would keep him out of prison and his monarchist followers would elect him. 😉 I hope you have the day you voted for! Thoughts and tariffs, bro!

the real question is, why are you so proud of putting the first convicted felon into the white house? Do you think federal laws only apply to democrats?

You’re pathetic.

Thank you, Congressman Mark Alford, for working as hard as you do to meet with your constitutents where they live, and have civil discussions about complex issues that face Missouri and the US. I may not always agree with your positions, but I very much appreciate your willingness to listen and engage in a reasoned back-and-forth conversation.

you clearly weren’t at the last townhall

I actually was. Rep. Alford responded to that mob with class and did everything he could to have a civil discussion with hateful fools that just wanted to curse and shout and spit and stomp their feet like spoiled toddlers.

“Mob”? Some people are so sensitive.

a handful of constituents with actual grievances and without pitchforks is what a townhall is supposed to look like. A mob is what happened on January 6.

from what I heard, he answered with Republicans talking points, instead of thoughtful answers. That’s why people were so upset.

That, and the constant gaslighting.

Did you ask them what they think about Elon saying that social security is a ponzi scheme? Did you ask them if they are okay giving up their SS checks? Did you talk about tariffs and farm subsidies?

If you loved our district, you should do another town hall and answer the voters questions.

yes, and we all need to hold each other accountable. No yelling, and no talking around the answers.

and no parroting, Mark. We want your answers with some thought about how your constituents are going to be hurt.

And I DARE him to show his face there again once consequences of DOGE settle in.

firing employees at the Social Security offices will only make it slower and more difficult to get Social Security. It already takes a month just to get a telephone appointment. How is making the workforce even smaller a legitimate “waste” saving plan?
I agree with not taxing Social Security; however, in order to sustain the program, the cap needs to be removed on the amount of income Social Security taxes are charged on. Why is the government so invested in “helping” those of us who are already doing extremely well, and leaving the rest hanging out to dry?

When’s the next townhall Mondays with Mark?

Heh. Never. This has been another edition of Short Answers to Simple Questions.

Sounds like you’re just afraid to do town halls

Or, ordered not to.

Sounds like they agreed with you. Wow, such bravery to face people who support you.

Hmmm. Wouldn’t expect any different out of the demographic you chose to sit and have a chat with. 🙄

So… thoughts on January 6th?

Tourism? Just a random guess.

You are the furthest thing from one of them.

Said the town’s name is Lockwood not Lockton.

Congressman Mark Alford how can I contact your office regarding an issue with how FASFA determines a students eligibility for loans/grants?

Good luck with that.

All I see is a bunch of old men gossiping about how the country was in the 60’s when women wore dresses and had dinner ready at the table. Times have changed. We have evolved the country under duress we have a corrupt president who is a felon convicted on 34 felony counts. We have unelected official tearing down the needs of good people. A president who is friends with putin. A dictator who wants to take ukraine down so he can take control back. I’m appalled I’m mad and I’m afraid. What have we come to. The weather has change from good to bad because we have a president who fails to acknowledge the climate has changed. Doest want any part of the Paris climate agreement to better the earth. I really hate Donld J Trump for causing so much hatred in the world. We are more divided then ever. Instead of loving one another and helping each other.

After that trash corrupt Joe Biden and what he did to our country you have nothing zero not 1 one thing good you can say about Biden. Move on with your hate and lies!!! By the way in your stupidity what Trump is doing is trying to make Peace around the world with All leaders!! Putin destroyed the bio labs in Ukraine that y’all’s corrupt democrat president Obama started there!!!!

Alford’s golden era. Back before the civil rights.

“There was no yelling and no hysteria” translates to “I wasn’t talking to women or people with a different opinion” Good job at avoidance. Sit down with just me! I’m a Dem, promise not to be hysterical or yell. I’m not even good at debating!

Mr. Alford, when are you going to stop blindly following trump and his rich friends? You need to stand up to the bully/nazi and his henchman elon and start doing what is right for the people you represent. I think the reception you got in Belton a few days ago should give you a clue!

Sycophant has to sycophant.

You’re such a disappointment.

I’m sure this isn’t something you completely made up.

This photo looks planned and not genuine.

Wonder how your boys will like it when the rural hospitals close and they lose social security and Medicare. Good times.[….]

with the goal to privatize everything, many services will be lost to rural communities because what the federal government previously had to provide, the private businesses no longer do. This will include health care, education and mail service. It’s amazing this is what his base voted for.

No respect for you
You sold your soul to the devil

It’s Lockwood! At least get it right. Did you tell them you plan to cut Social Security? At least a couple of them are probably veterans, did you tell them that you support Musk’s cutting the VA?

Shame they haven’t found work in ten years.

Heh.

or that their social security checks and medicaid/medicare/va benefits are likely going to get slashed.

Why can’t you talk to all your constituents, not just the ones who echo fox news? One time I was a Republican. The party platform under dt has disappeared. I have no idea what he stands for except himself. As leaders of the free world we stood with our allies against aggressors, we participated in fair trade, we upheld our treaties. What is happening now is dangerous. You are ceding all power to a power grabbing authoritarian. Please stand up for the people of your district and stop giving tax breaks to the wealthy. I don’t believe dt or elon are in our district and their lives are not impacted by owning 10 less homes. Our kids access to health care, home ownership, retirement should be your priority.

They used to hate Russia. Now, not so much.

Maybe listen to some folks who have things other to do than sit on the same bench every day at 2?

Of course you loved them. They’re low information voters. Talk to some who stay informed, and I’ll bet you won’t enjoy the conversation.

Want respect? Give it!

I think you’re a liar. Just like Trump.

Why dont you resign and join them full time. You would be just as useful to the country.

Welfare queens.

Found four people who wouldn’t question your every assinine move? Congrats. You sure they weren’t “paid?”

Did you tell them the truth Mark ?

All you do is use gaslight and now you act like you want a group hug. You are a disgrace.

Congressman Mark Alford
In reality.
Truth is these die-hard Republican men don’t really pay attention.
They are old white retired men that haven’t been affected by Trump…yet…
They pass their day sitting at an old gas station in deep RED redneck hillbilly country & are clueless.
That’s why you liked it.
They knew nothing about anything, only gotta remember to head home before 5:00 for supper.
Come back to where people ARE paying attention & their lives are affected.
You’re a 🐓 💩 panty waste!
Always have been.

Previously:

Mark Alford (r) – coffee with constituents – Belton, Missouri – February 24, 2025 – hot water (February 24, 2025)

Mark Alford (r) – coffee with constituents – Belton, Missouri – February 24, 2025 – hot water – part 2 (February 24, 2025)

Self-important snowflake is apparently afraid of listening to his constituents. (February 25, 2025)

Mark Alford (r) – “Oh, the humanity!” (February 25, 2025)