A Debate. NOT!
The Democratic primary candidates just had their first debate at South Carolina State. After watching it, I wondered who decided to call this political showcase a debate. I wouldn’t even call it a Q & A session because a good percentage of the time, the question asked is not answered. Rather a little mini political speech is given filling, or often overflowing, the allotted time. Other than the candidates getting a little free face time on national television and the media getting to act like they are performing a public service, these evens serve little purpose.
The curious thing is that we go along with these charades they call debates. Why do we do that? We could end the use of this format by letting the networks know we will not watch these so called debates all the while calling for the real thing. Networks don’t continue to air shows that nobody watches. If the candidates don’t want to debate, that will tell us something about them that will figure in our voting choice.
A real debate, with the candidates going back and forth expressing their different points of view on the best way to deal with the important issues facing our country would be a real public service. It would give us a peak at the plan each candidate has developed to solve our nation’s problems... or... allow us to see they have no plan! It would give us a foundation for making an informed decision when we choose our next president.
This is something we can all do with very little time and effort. Send an email to MSNBC and tell them thanks but no thanks for these “not debates” and ask for the real thing. Then send the candidates an email and let them know you want them to have real debates with each other - with only two or three issues that they actually deal with in depth. And while you’re at it, tell them which two or three issues are most important to you.
You too can actually make a difference… try it, you’ll like it!