Debacle Or Debate: 2020
We all knew the initial 2020 presidential debate was going to a be a “first” on several levels; based on a volatile and mutual contempt the candidates carry toward the opposing parties, economic and employment issues and, finally, the explosive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
We wondered out loud, if it was going to be a debate or, a 90-minute debacle. We tuned in snacks and drinks ready, filled with shark like anticipation to see how much blood would be spilled in fresh election waters.
Generally speaking, there are two categories of debates. “Problem debates”, focusing on philosophical questions, such as if something is right or wrong. Or, “mechanism debates” which center on practical problems, arguing on how something can be done. Solution scenarios.
We have, over the years become almost immune to the general mudslinging that pairs up with an American presidential election campaign. We have achieved herd immunity to the boring, self-serving adverts washing over us from the tv. We have learned to pick through the abusive volleys seeking those fragments of presumptive solutions.
2020 has forged forward, taking us down new paths of political vitriol and debasement. The battleground for America is no longer disguised as a debate and has sunk far below a debacle. In fact, the best we could compare it to is a no holds barred boxing match.
Trump went brawling into the ring ignoring all stage rules. Biden tried out a few bolo punches via unrestrained name calling and the fight was on. There was some heavy bobbing and weaving from both opponents on issues of taxes and health insurance. Trump threw a corkscrew punch at Biden regarding his son. Biden went into a cover-up maneuver and the moderator threw in the towel.
The punches that scored highest with the audience were; alleged tax fraud, voting fraud, health insurance and the handling of the pandemic. Economic issues took a few slight sandbox hits of “mine is better than yours” and were then quickly dodged by both parties. Bartenders paid the bets and doled out the drinks. Fox and CNN gave up trying to keep score. There were too many hits and the referee went down in the first round.
The lies that have become the accepted litter of a political campaign are designed to distract us from the important questions. They side-line us from getting answers to the pivotal issues. Social media leaps onto the bandwagon of ‘false facts’ embroiling us in online arguments of who said what. They forget we heard it for ourselves. We are dragged down into a quicksand of endless, pointless repetition. Eventually, we forget to ask, did either party have any viable solutions?
Portland Oregon’ Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese adamantly states he does not support Trump and never will. Was Hunter Biden “dishonourably” discharged from the army? Yes, he was discharged, due to a cocaine addiction, but it was not “dishonourable.” Is Antifa “real” or not. We are going to hear these and other debate “tidbits” screaming across the media until the final round on Oct 22nd.
What we won’t hear is legitimate and thoughtful debate on the economic issues that are affecting America. We won’t’ hear coherant or practical debate on solutions offered by either party on the issues affecting America. What we won’t get is, a debate.
The final blow in this match was the clear message that November 3rd will Not give us either election results or, a president. In a stunning close, both parties agreed that due to “mail-in” vote counting issues, we, as nation may not get results for “weeks or even months”.
And, that, is the real blood in the ring and may be our final bell as a nation.
