Posts
Didn't think so.
Yes, debate season is about to open and we will soon be treated to more flips and spins than the Olympics ever gave us. We know how it goes: Panelist (or audience member, in those trendy "town hall"-style debates) asks question, Candidate A acknowledges question has been asked, goes to talking point, Candidate B goes to own talking point, Candidate A gets the last word in--all in 3 or 4 minutes. Viewers are left with the knowledge that neither candidate has really said anything new or substantial; we've heard these soundbites before. They serve two purposes: Make the target look foolish, and keep the speaker on safe ground.
The one purpose they do not serve is answering the question.
THIS. MUST. CHANGE!
I hereby put forth a modest proposal to change the format and, I hope, usefulness of political debates. I want one simple change. Just one. Such a little thing. Ready? Here it goes.
Right after all this question/response/rebuttal/final response stuff, the moderator turns to the questioner and asks: "Are you satisfied that your question has been answered?" The questioner must give a clear, concise response: "Yes; as I understand it, Candidate A thinks we should do such and such, while Candidate B says we should do such and such instead." Or the questioner can answer: "No. I have no clear idea what one (or either) candidate would do about this issue."
In most debates, candidates don't give specific actions. They attack. They tell us why their opponents are evil. They talk about their own selflessness and Compassion for the American People, and how their opponent has none of that (the cad!); but they say precious little about what they will do. Answering a question is no more than opening a can and dumping its contents out in front of the audience; and there's a big stock of cans in the cupboard for each candidate to draw on. They get away with it because, in most debates, nobody has the time or authority to point out that the question hasn't been answered. We cannot have substantive debate when candidates do this; and Heaven knows we need substantive debate now.
