Not Presidential Debates, Presidential Quizzes

America needs something new in our politics. We need something that serves the interests of the public and not the interests of the politicians and the political parties. America needs what Thomas Jefferson indicated is necessary for self-government: “Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”

What America needs is to be better “informed”. The question then becomes: “How to achieve this?

Obviously, a major opportunity is via Presidential Debates. The events provide a means to hear directly from the candidates on topics that are of importance to the American people or which are central to hold the office and duties of the President of the United States. Of course, there have to be debates if they are to provide an opportunity for the public to become “informed”. And to further complicate the situation, the debates have to providing information that “informs” them. The first condition: there being debates requires candidates participate. This use to be just expected, now it is a decision made by the politicians, not by the citizens. Politicians decide if they are going to provide the voters with answers, positions, policies, and their vision on topics; not the voters deciding if they feel “informed” by the politicians regarding issues and topics.

The second requirement is that when a debate does happen that the candidates answer the questions asked, explain their policies and positions on the topic being debated, and rebutting/refuting information presented by their opponent(s). These are the basic deliverables that any Presidential Debate would need to provide. It’s questionable if current day Debates come even close to this.

There was a time when people thought that Presidential Debates provided an opportunity to gain some insight and understanding of where candidates stood on issues and the policies that they had. But the debates of today, are far removed from events which provide much by way of anything that actually “informs”. They are more poorly organized, orchestrated, and oriented than even the blatantly self-serving self-promoting campaign rallies they hold for their supporters. This is largely due to the “Debates” having been taken over and controlled by the politicians and political parties; by the “Debates” being abandoned by public and non-partisan groups that use to hold and conduct them, and by the inept capitulation of the news media to following rules dictated by the political parties.

As of today, a second Presidential Debate has been proposed but only one candidate has accepted. The voters’ value in this decision does not seem to be particularly high on the list of demonstrating any of the attributes that one might expect a candidate for president to have.

What America needs is a new political event for voters to access a way to be “informed” but not under the control and dictates of the politicians. If there’s a issue, it can be brough up. If there is a policy or position a candidate has, it can be questioned on details. The new political event would be a much truer test of a candidate’s character, abilities, knowledge, positions, and policies.

What America needs in our election years are Presidential Quizzes.

Presidential Quizzes (PQ) are not game shows, even if the candidates may attempt to make them out to be or use them in that fashion. Presidential Quizzes are opportunities to obtaining varying levels of answers and information from candidates regarding relevant issues, concerns and problems of the nation. PQs would not be dictated by the political parties or their candidate; and of course a candidate could always choose to not participate. However, the PQ events would occur whether or not a candidate chose to participate.

PQs would follow a new format that enable a coalition of media entities and subject matter experts to ask questions about topics and issues that are answered in a set of steps or stages. For example, candidates would be asked if they agree with a policy (Y/N), or a position regarding a policy or issue (A, B, C, …), or even a value / estimate on a position. Once their answer is given then a more detailed or follow-up question can be asked; and the candidate can provide additional information based upon their answer or can explain the reasoning or justification behind their answer.

There are numerous varieties of how questions can be presented and answers given. Just as a PQ format offers ways to enable candidates to participate without the difficulties and scheduling problems that coordinating debate events do. There could be a PQ event every week during a campaign, each taking only a half-hour of time and from a location convenient to the candidate’s campaign schedule. These short-duration events would enable for many more issues to be discussed and would enable the candidates and campaigns to react to real-world events happening throughout the election cycle.

There is just much more flexibility, adaptability, and utility that a PQ format and approach can bring to our modern elections that the old, tired and hamstrung debate format cannot.

This is an opportunity for America, but it is like all opportunities; you must see it, seize it, and use it to your advantage. Otherwise, it is just a ship passing in the night unbeknownst to America.