LETTER: Where are the debates?
Where are the debates?
As another primary season foists itself upon us, with surprisingly many competitive intra-party races playing out, I cannot help but wonder, where are the debates?
In times past, there often would be debates hosted by agreed upon parties at agreed upon venues, which, in my opinion, help us to better vet candidates. Not only that, these debates, alongside the elections themselves, became places where issues could be discussed and meaningful fellowship/social interaction occur.
I believe that media outlets should host debates, and schools, churches or other fraternal organizations offer the venue. These organizations, presumably possess a genuine interest in society functioning more efficiently and peaceably, so it fits. Not having debates, and in some cases, outright refusing them, is expressly advantageous to incumbents and unfair to non-incumbent challengers.
If we want the most equitable playing field for the highest number of candidates, if we say we respect the democratic process, we must offer debates. I now challenge the media, and if it is unwilling, the political parties individually and collectively, to host debates for all the primary races this cycle and then again in autumn.
If debates do not occur, the electorate can assume the incumbents and the party establishment – sometimes called elites – are afraid and pulling the strings, and the citizens then must host debates themselves. Perhaps, the latter is what must occur.
Tom Bilsky
Canonsburg