After watching the first republican debate of this year, it got me
thinking. They are primarily winning just on personality, but that does
not make a president. So I propose an alteration to the debate format.
Here is the idea.
Blind debate: So instead of seeing the candidates
on stage, they are cast in shadow with their voices distorted so none of them
can be told apart from each other. Then a number will appear before each
of them to differentiate each person with the number lighting up or altering
color when they are speaking. From there it works like a normal debate
until the end. At which time people can vote who won, or the pundits can
decide which person was best. Once the winner is decided, each
candidate's number is reviled. The results may surprise or change
people's opinions. I say this and propose this idea based on historical
records and studies done on past Presidential elections. The most
poignant example is the Kennedy Nixon debate. People who watched on
television thought that Kennedy won, but people listening via radio thought
Nixon won. That reason had to do with image. Nixon was sick on
stage and was not wearing makeup, while Kennedy was youthful and vibrant
looking. Basically the more beautiful looking person won. Further
studies reveal that not only that, but in a majority of elections, the most
youthful candidates typically won as well. So by hiding their faces and
voices it eliminates the age and beauty factor. Additionally, it eliminates
the race and sex/gender factor as well. Basically, the debate can now be
heard more objectively by the listening audience, and thus prevent as much bias
as possible. This even has the benefit of reducing the amount of on stage
attacks on other candidates which should result in the issues being talked
about more, rather than about each other. Basically, I wanted a debate
where we would get to make an objective decision without biases and this is
what I came up with.
Conclusion: Debates are a ratings magnet for news agencies. Hence
why they are hosted by the major news networks like Fox and CNN. But, our
biases get in the way due to looks, age, race, sex/gender, party affiliation or
even just favoritism. This however does a disservice to the country and
to ourselves by us allowing those biases to take hold. Thus my double
blind debate, where if all goes well, not even the candidates will know who is
who on stage.
No comments:
Post a Comment