TV Debate Hell
Do you know what is wrong with this country? TV debates, that’s what. Oh of course the talking-head round tables are dragging us down into hell, and the ones that shout at us have been down there a long time already. But why or why must we always have two people debating an issue?! It is so boring!! One side; other side. Seriously, that feeds into our pernicious predilection for black/white scenarios: this or that; yes or no; right or wrong. I want to see a show called "Shades of Gray", because that is the truth much of the time! Or call it "Yes, But", or call it "No, Although Sometimes". Let’s rise above the lowest possible denominator for discussion, and actually discuss issues with all the messiness that any issue has around it. The American people are really not so very stupid. Two people shouting at each other is noise. Add another and you could have music. Do you agree with Abby?? Or do you want to debate?
Posted by agingboomerchick at 12/17/2008 4:00 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Debates Politics Tv debate Talking heads Shades of gray
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Debates Politics Tv debate Talking heads Shades of gray
I would like to offer a humble comment that is not intended to take issue in black-and-white terms with Abby but simply to observe that most of the Sunday morning shows, in fact, do offer shades of gray. Maybe too much. A notable exception is Carville and Matalin, but they are so transparent that it's painful. The final round of the presidential debates were of course set up to be black and white even though the candidates often went to great pains to avoid such labels. The VP debates were not even a fair example of the b/w vice since one of the candidates didn't exactly have a "there there." Much worse, in Nom's view, are debates in which there are no discernable differences between the various speakers who strive to all offer sensible and moderate opinions. Where are the blood and guts of our democracy, I ask? Why can't we be more like the Europeans, who tear each other to bits in their parliaments and sidewalk cafes? Who have real political parties? Is it a vice to have strong opinions? Indeed Nom notices a slight bent in that direction on the part of Abby herself (we surmise that Abby is a "she" because of her earlier b/w diatribe about restrooms on trains) in this message and others...
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unfortunately, shades of gray do not make for good sound bites nor do they create high poll ratings for "strong leader," so what does that say about the American people we would so like to have faith in. politics has become a contest of creating the best "stong message" and sticking to it, which rarely makes for good debates, so I am not sure we can expect much improvement anytime soon. Maybe we could have something more akin to the Dating Game, where contestants get to ask any questions they want and decide which candidate they want to make all the decisions in their personal lives for the next week.... But, on the other hand, I do like the idea of a Yes, but...show, but...imagine all the ways that talking heads could give you a sarcastic yes and a b/w but.
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Abby, you are absolutely right, as always. We should never have yeses and no's. Only shades of gray. period. end of debate. there can be no equivocating on this issue.
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