Would you support Political Debates That were Televised oriented toward the Voters and not the Media?

Question

The United States has problems that can't be explained in a sound bite. The Media on both sides of the political spectrum has done a poor job informing the voters, because of time limits. Would you consider a longer debate in order to be better informed in the form of a Lincoln-Douglas Debate where several hours were used to bring ideas to the voters attention. In this manner political consultants influence would be reduced, the politicians would be able to offer solutions, and the Media would carry the debates commercial free, and the chattering classes would be required to be silent until the debates were concluded. There would be a moderator to watch the time.

Answer 1

In general I like the idea although several valid points were brought up by other posters.

1. How do you propose to get the TV time? Taking over a private TV station is unacceptable. Perhaps a government funded TV station? I think it would be a worthwhile use of tax money.

2. How do you propose to get the other 75% of the voters to watch? I'd watch but most of my neighbors wouldn't.

3. The idea about not letting them see the questions in advance is a very good one. Let them really say what they think without coaching or preparation.

4. Talking heads make me very tired. I am not interested in interpretations and can understand the spoken word. If I want somebody to tell me what the candidates said I can go to a bar and listen to the gossip.

5. Yes, only citizens should be allowed to participate. If you are not a US citizen the elections in this country are none of your business. Kindly get your nose out of our affairs!

6. My contribution is that all election campaigns should be funded only by the government and each candidate getting exactly the same dollars as all the rest. Maybe integrate it with a government funded TV station mentioned above? By doing away with campaign finance games we reduce the number of favors owed to non-office holders. I'd like to see people in office that really were working for the people of the US.

7. Term limits are needed desperately!!!

Answer 2

First of all, the media is not to be trusted. Would the moderator be a Democrat or a Republican? The politicians would not offer one rational solution because it would require offending some voters on one side or the other. Would the politicians be ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED to answer the questions or to evade them by long winded suppositions that do not even apply to the question. Would the politician be required to be absolute in his/her answers or answer in such a way as Jack would think he said yes and Jill or Harry would think he said no.

Answer 3

I like Free to Choose's response. That's exactly how the debates ought to be done. People in the audience are allowed to ask the questions and the media moderators just maintain time and order.

Our politicians do after all work for us...though they often forget this simple fact.

Answer 4

Have you been reading my mind?

I would propose 6 six hour debates. Each debate would cover a different topic and the formats would differ slightly.

In the short time allotted for answers now, the candidates are able to give stale committee-crafted, focus-group driven answers. In a six hour debate, we would actually get a glimpse of the candidate's understanding of the issues. We would also get an idea of their ideology.

Answer 5

specific! his previous election there have been 4 candidate (different than for ObaMaCain) that have been on the pollin adequate states to theoretically win 270+ Electors. Ralph Nader, Chuck Stanley Baldwin, Cynthia McKinney & Bob Barr. those 4 might desire to have been coated in the debates. I help 50 debates, one in each and every State, inclusive of each and every candidate it incredibly is on the pollin that State.

Answer 6

It really angers me when a talking head tells me what someone has said. Sometimes they'll even have video, of the person speaking, running behind the talking head that is telling me what that person in the video is saying. Shut the talking head up, and let me hear the audio of the video, is what I say. How dare the media decide what the speaker said! I'm capable of discerning that for myself. Let me hear it.

Answer 7

When less than 25 percent of us vote why would TV stations do this? Or are you suggesting a very socialist, i.e. Venezuela-like, take over of TV stations. Part of your job as an American is to be informed of the issues.

Answer 8

Absolutely.

Answer 9

I think that only US citizens should be allowed to ask the questions at Presidential debates and the candidates shouldn't be allowed to see the questions before hand. they just would have to answer them on the spot.

Answer 10

no one would watch. Survivor or american Idol is on and that cant be missed.