What is all the debate about the debate? (Part 1)
Year after year, council Democrats call for an online debate. They never seem to entertain an in-person venue for some reason. Gamesmanship is their strongpoint; they try to make it sound as though their opponents don't want to debate. Every year they are always invited to collaborate and participate in an in-person venue but reject the opportunity. Their favored organization is always The League of Women Voters. We wonder why. Do they believe that format of debate favors them?
So why not use the League? Points to consider:
1. Considering that the League makes you sign a contract giving up your likeness so they can use it for their own financial benefit makes no sense for the candidate. It’s foolish to give up any rights to the use of one’s likeness so it can be used, possibly misused, and reused all for the League's financial benefit with no ability to control what is happening to the individual’s likeness forever more. How many of you would agree to that? It’s just not smart.
2. On a Zoom platform, anyone can send a text or an email to a candidate in real time, thereby helping them with answers to questions without anyone’s knowledge. You can't do that when you're face-to-face for all to see. You have to stand on your own two feet and answer based on your personal knowledge. This has also been a problem for the council, where one individual repeatedly texted supporters for help on zoom meetings.
3. Where will the League get their questions? How will they know the intimate details of our town so they can begin to ask relevant questions? This favors those who don’t want a deep dive into their record. Especially incumbents.
4. Questions should come from residents. Somebody could moderate and ask the residents’ questions to the candidates.
5. It's no secret the League is biased. The hosts of the proposed debate are partisan. It only takes the slightest bit of research to uncover this fact through their social media posts. Yet they claim bipartisanship. So much for transparency.
Residents should come first, all aspects of the debate should be transparent for resident’s benefit, however, it may require more transparency than local democrats can bear.
