The noisier the citizenry participate in a debate, the better for expanding electoral democratic space. The more people post strong opinions on an on-going debate, the better for increasing electoral participation. The fierier the exchange of words during a debate is, the better for resolving electoral indecision. Hopefully, light follows fire and heat. We want more debates rather than less, the outrageous with the reasonable, the witty with the wafty, the perennial pikón with the persistent pitík. The usual, trite criticism of electoral debates is that these lack substance, or they lack policy discussion. But lack of platform discussion, or even lack of differences in program of government, is inherent in traditional political parties — and it is the nature of elite electoral politics. (Big words). (Students of history know that the unwritten rule in traditional electoral democracy is that members of the elite alternate in power without changing the basic economic and political framework of government.) HOWEVER, every generation of enlightened citizenry is more intelligent than the previous one, the patronizing or pejorative “millennial” appellation notwithstanding. The more debates there are, the more revelations there would be of the character of the candidates, and the nature of the traditional political parties they represent. If you want the citizenry to spit out and reject the recalcitrant with the corrupt, the incompetent with the inane, the traditional political elite with their traditional billionaire padrinos, saturate them with debates — show the real lack of intelligent choices. These would expose the candidates and the real nature of their parties. Flood the citizenry with debates, and they will rise up and make the most intelligent choice for our generation. ♣ ♣ ♣
Pls also see other WordPressers’ posts on the theme “Perspective” at:
At your option, if you want to earn points to be added to your exam scores, you may monitor the presidential debate on March 20, 2016 to be televised live, and on replay;
or any news coverage of said debate;
and write and post on the following (click the comments section and type your opinion, then click “post comment” ; you may use a pseudonym if you don’t want to use your real name): (for 10 points at 5 points each)
BOTH THE FOLLOWING (or only one at your option):
One sample of any of the following: an imputation of a vice; or an imputation of a crime; or an imputation of a defect, made by any of the participants in the debate. Then, pls discuss whether the utterer can be held liable for libel by using the categories, doctrines, and principles taken up in class.
One sample of the following: Any criticism made of fellow candidates or of the administration which constitutes fair comment, using the categories on subjects of fair comment, and the criteria for fair comment, taken up in class.
Deadline: Tuesday after Easter, or on March 29, 2016 at 5pm.
The 6th media monitor or any of the bonuses, including the 5th bonus on any media content related to Lent or on the Lenten season, can be posted here, with deadline on the first Tuesday after Easter, or on March 29, 2016, at 5pm. Media content on Lent may be any show on TV related to the observation of the Holy Week or any film related to Lent, or any related news coverage. You may use the KBP Broadcast Code, the MTRCB guidelines, or the PPI Code of Ethics (summary or expanded) or the 2014 SPJ Code of Ethics.