TALES FROM THE S
HIRE
Debating Debates
I cannot watch political debates. They are not debates with proper negative and affirmative rebuttals. They just blast sound bites back and forth and talk over each other. Moderators are often a joke.
As a friend said, “If middle school teachers mediated presidential debates, I assure you candidates would speak one at a time.”
Why not get judges from the National Speech and Debate Association to moderate? Maybe they should be judged as if it were a high school competition. Sometimes I think the maturity level in political discussions and debates might be more like junior high, ——— My “debate” proposal:
Put the candidates — all of them, not just who the media wants to invite —into separate rooms.
Check them for wires and smart watches, or any device to communicate outside the room.
Nothing can be spoken. Give them identical writing prompts or questions that they must respond to in writing, on the paper provided of course.
When they have finished, they submit their papers and stay in solitary confinement.
A third person reads their responses in front of the camera, and candidates may listen in.
Then they get to respond to their competitor’s answers in writing.
Again, a third person reads it to the media for them.
After three or four exchanges, it is over and the transcripts are published the next day.
Th enwevotethatweekend.
——— English teachers would have a heyday checking for clarity and plagiarism.
——— And I seriously doubt that many voters actually watch and listen to see what the candidates have to say about issues, but to simply root for their chosen candidate and find flaws with the other one. England has four major parties and a shorter election season. I’ll bet the debates there are more interesting, ——— It’s too bad we only have two parties. Without a third choice, there is an air of polarization which makes some elections more about picking the lesser of the two evils instead of going for the best choice. Thus some folks may not vote because they can't bear to make a choice. It's kind of like trying to pick a church where the choices are: A. agreeing with doctrine, but not liking the pastor, or B. disagreeing with the doctrine, but really liking the pastor. But, alas, if you don’t vote, you can’t gripe.
——— I’ve always thought we should have a national presidential primary on the same day instead of caucuses and primaries all over the calendar. Of course, this year we learned that a presidential candidate can be on the general election ballot without being on a primary ballot. Hmm. Then why bother with primary elections if parties can simply decide who the candidate will be?
——— So it's no wonder we start believing conspiracy theories.
