Friday, July 05, 2019

Debates or Debased?


MANKIND SUPPOSEDLY EVOLVED and our opposable thumbs enabled us to make tools, which caused us to develop bigger brains.  Others say we devolved, and the reason we survived was not our intelligence but our odor.  No predators would approach because of our stench.

     The stink hypothesis seems to hold water—which was not used—because of the format and the
absence of soap.  One minute to respond to a question and thirty seconds to follow-up leads to soundbites and strutting and posing.

     The performance began, before the show, with Senator Booker’s reaction to Biden’s remarks.  It was a BREAKOUT MOMENT.  He faulted the former Vice President for talking about his interaction with Southern Senators when he belonged to that body.  Yet Biden did not praise them nor support their views.  But how dare he describe his experiences dealing with them?

     Senator Harris’s BREAKOUT MOMENT happened during the program.  And her response got an eye roll and talking back to the screen.  Seriously, lady?  You were wounded by what Biden said?  And you want to run against the insulter-in-chief?  Please.  You need to get into another line of work.

     Spare me any more BREAKOUT MOMENTS that are an attitude in search of an insult.  How about a sound platform that will, to use the constitutional phrase, “promote the general welfare”?
   
     This is not a sporting event, although the press and the candidates talk about who won and who lost as if it were a game.  Meanwhile, WE THE PEOPLE were robbed and we cannot “Wait till next year.”  So get rid of the audience.  Applause and cheering take up precious time.

     Instead of journalists playing a dominant role, those running should be the stars.  In a crowded field of twenty, five candidates over four nights would be more likely to produce an enlightened exchange.  With five minute opening and closing statements, a platform can be laid out and defended from that individual’s point of view.  Journalists’ questions would be supplemental.

     Can we leave the sandbox?  The alternative is appealing and provides evidence of evolution.

(c)2019 Marvin D. Jones.  All rights reserved.






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