I know its been a week or two since the second round of Democratic Debates, but I'm finally feeling up to talking about it. Much like the last time I wrote on this topic, I want to focus on a specific issue I have with the debates. What is wrong with CNN and their damn time limit?
One of the most important things in government, especially a democratic one, is policy. It is important that the people chosen into office have comprehensive policy ideas on a host of topics that directly affect their constituents. It is even more important, however, that we the constituents ensure that we listen to and understand the policies candidates set forward. But CNN just didn't allow for that. Instead, they allowed fifteen seconds for responses. A measly FIFTEEN SECONDS for candidates to outline entire policies on issues as complicated as healthcare, immigration, border security, and gun control. It takes longer than fifteen seconds for Bernie Sanders to warm up his voice before he can start yelling like his kids forgot to do their chores.
On a serious note though, this is a joke. Fifteen seconds is not CNN encouraging a free debate of ideas that would allow the American people to make an educated decision regarding someone who might be their next president. Fifteen seconds is instead the perfect amount of time for CNN to catch a sound bite to play over and over again to drum up ratings and views. It's absolutely worthless journalism coming for a once reputable news organization.
We should without a doubt have these debates, that isn't the question at hand here. But these debates should be longer, with candidates given more time to convey thorough answers on policy, and the moderators should ask relevant questions which answers would potentially directly affect the American people. They shouldn't ask questions that lead candidates to attack one another. Come on CNN, get it together. Become a news organization again.
One of the most important things in government, especially a democratic one, is policy. It is important that the people chosen into office have comprehensive policy ideas on a host of topics that directly affect their constituents. It is even more important, however, that we the constituents ensure that we listen to and understand the policies candidates set forward. But CNN just didn't allow for that. Instead, they allowed fifteen seconds for responses. A measly FIFTEEN SECONDS for candidates to outline entire policies on issues as complicated as healthcare, immigration, border security, and gun control. It takes longer than fifteen seconds for Bernie Sanders to warm up his voice before he can start yelling like his kids forgot to do their chores.
On a serious note though, this is a joke. Fifteen seconds is not CNN encouraging a free debate of ideas that would allow the American people to make an educated decision regarding someone who might be their next president. Fifteen seconds is instead the perfect amount of time for CNN to catch a sound bite to play over and over again to drum up ratings and views. It's absolutely worthless journalism coming for a once reputable news organization.
We should without a doubt have these debates, that isn't the question at hand here. But these debates should be longer, with candidates given more time to convey thorough answers on policy, and the moderators should ask relevant questions which answers would potentially directly affect the American people. They shouldn't ask questions that lead candidates to attack one another. Come on CNN, get it together. Become a news organization again.
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