Too Many Meaningless “Debates”

Today’s modern debates are pathetic and ill conceived. They have turned into nothing more that 30-second sound bites that will be played by the candidate in some future commercial. In 2007, we have been inundated with these meaningless “shows” already and the American people have grown tired of the repeated one-liners and zingers.

Debates in their purest form are an excellent avenue for the citizenry to explore the candidate running for office. Instead of the meaningless, drive-by media, sound bite debates of today we should have the kind of debates made famous from long ago.

Debates in the best traditions like Federalist Alexander Hamilton versus Anti-Federalist Aaron Burr (the debates not the duel that killed Hamilton), or the debate of Anti-Slavery Candidate Abraham Lincoln versus Pro-Slavery Candidate Stephen Douglass, or Big Stick Foreign Policy Candidate Teddy Roosevelt versus Isolationist Candidate Alton Parker and Socialist Candidate Eugene Debs. Debates of this time were interactive between the candidates and explanations were heard on why the candidates believe what they believe. In debates such as these, the candidates questioned fellow candidates on their opinions. You couldn’t hide behind a consultants’ one-liner in 1776, 1859 or 1900. You can today.

Debate as taught in school gives one the opportunity to convince the audience that the debater is right in their thoughts and beliefs. It is the purist form of communication and not one that is used in today’s world. It should be the mainstay in political debates, regardless of office. From mayor to governor to congress to the president this true form of the debating process should be the precursor in political discourse.

Due to the large collection of both Republican and Democrat candidates running for President it would be much better to have the candidates vett out their issues and convince their respective voters of why they believe in a particular vision for the country without the debating process. Debates should be topical and narrow. After the long list of candidates dwindles down then perhaps we could have five or six debates on major issues, such as: Terrorism and the War; Immigration; Taxes and Spending, Social Issues; Foreign Policy; and, Domestic Policy.

Only then will we have voters that will be truly informed on the candidates’ beliefs and stances. Only then will we have the confidence to select our future leaders. Only then will we stop these meaningless sound bites that have become the mainstay in American politics.