Debate Questions Corporate Media Won't Ask

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Tag(s): Democracy; Election-Voting Issues; Enemies Of Democracy; Freedom Of The Press; Globalization-WTO-WB-etc; Lies Media; Media Distortion; Public Opinion US; Public Ownership Airwaves; Representation
Group(s): Benicia Progressives
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May 5, 2007 at 14:42:35

Debate Questions Corporate Media Won't Ask

by Kent Welton Page 1 of 3 page(s)

http://www.opednews.com

Debate Questions Corporate Media Won’t Ask

The Corporate-media sponsored Republican and Democratic presidential candidate debates are a well-constructed farce, designed to keep real issues from public cognizance and discusssion. After all, they own the ‘weapons of Mass Distraction’ and clearly intend to use them against We, The People. Any list of real, relevant and significant questions for "our" presidential candidates would include the following:

1. How do you campaign for months on end and still represent your constituents? Are you not AWOL as a legislator or Governor?

2. Do you agree we ought to have full public financing for campaigns and get corporate money out of "our" election system. How much time do you spend raising money instead of performing your duties?

3. Do you believe we ought to have media give-backs for air-time and some semblance of a fairness doctrine to give minority parties their say?

4. Do you believe that money is speech or power? Do you agree with the Supreme Court’s definition in Buckley v. Valeo?

5. Do you believe the United States is a real Democracy or, effectively, a Plutocracy and Oligarchy of the rich and powerful?

6. Did you vote for, or continue to support, GATT/NAFTA? Do you think "free trade" has been a good thing for this country? For First World Standards? For democracy? Or, simply for those global international companies who have layed off many american workers, and have gained so much from international labor arbitrage?

7. Do you advocate getting out of the WTO? Would you if a majority of the American people wished to do so?

8. Would you call for the American people, and other countries, to elect their representatives to The World Trade Organization?

9. Do you think we should purposely ruin/diminish our currency value in order to compete against fasicst and undemocratic regimes, instead of having incentivizing, rifle-shot, tariffs adjustments to achieve better trade balances?

10. Do you support continuing to gut our tariff policy, give away our markets, and have monetary policy – i.e., currency ruin for everyone - attempt to adjust trade imbalances?

11. Do you believe it has been wise to become utterly dependent on a Communist, undemocratic, China for so much of what we need to live, and even for our critical defense needs?

12. Would you support a system of Distance Tariffs – (i.e., the greater the distance to market, the greater the tariff) so that we minimize the fossil fuel transhipment of goods and keep from destroying ourselves and our environment in the process of "free" trade?

13. Do you support higher taxes on SUVS and 8-cylinder cars?

14. Do you support a front-porch style, no fossil-fuel, election campaign instead of barnstorming around the country in a 4-mile-to-the-gallon behemoth? Have you heard of the internet and YouTube?

15. Do you accept the judgement of thousands of independent scientists regarding global warming, or prefer oil-company sponsored "science" on the matter?

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6 comments

Richard Mynick is a US citizen who, despite the best efforts of the corporate media, noticed something disturbing about how the 2000 election was decided, & felt it augured poorly for democracy.
Richard MynickRichard Mynick is a US citizen who, despite the best efforts of the corporate media, noticed something disturbing about how the 2000 election was decided, & felt it augured poorly for democracy.

Most of those questions are good, but I object to #11.

11. Do you believe it has been wise to become utterly dependent on a Communist, undemocratic, China for so much of what we need to live, and even for our critical defense needs?

Why does it matter if the country we're dependent on is "Communist" or not? (Would it be any better if it was "capitalist?")

The word "Communist" is just a red herring (no pun intended). China is thoroughly capitalist or committed to becoming so. There's almost nothing communist about it anymore, and even if there was, so what? The US is no democracy, or at best a fake democracy -- let's not kid ourselves. We have lost the moral right to look down at anyone.

You could legitimately ask if it's wise to become so terribly dependent on ANY other country, but the fact that China embraced a certain form of state ownership from 1949 to the late 1970's, and that it's not particularly democratic -- I don't think this makes US dependence on China any better or worse.

by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1026 comments) on Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 3:39:58 PM

Been around the block a few times.
Blue PilgrimBeen around the block a few times.

questions

These are all loaded questions which try to frame the issues -- and not really suitable for a debate, which should encourage candidates to explain his position on various issues. The idea of a debate is not all that great anyway -- a debate is held to 'win' the debate, not to inform voters about the candidates.

by Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 998 comments) on Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 3:55:25 PM

Charlie Levenson is a writer and activist in Portland, Oregon. In addition to serving as the Manager of Electronic Communications for a social/athletic club in Portland, he instructs in Digital Media at Portland State University, consults on communications strategy, and occasionally writes/directs videos.
Charlie LCharlie Levenson is a writer and activist in Portland, Oregon. In addition to serving as the Manager of Electronic Communications for a social/athletic club in Portland, he instructs in Digital Media at Portland State University, consults on communications strategy, and occasionally writes/directs videos.

These are not debates

The "Presidential Debates" and "Candidate Debates" are not really debates. They are situational media for talking point distribution.

A "debate" would be more like: "Mr. Kucinich, you are opposed to the war in Iraq. Mr. Romney, you are in favor. Begin." Ain't gonna happen.

Most of the questions are interesting for simply showing how the FRAME of the "discussions" during our elections are so well controlled by the right-wing-leaning corporate-controlled media.

Often, it's not what people are saying -- it's what they are NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT that really matters the most.

by Charlie L (2 articles, 2 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 617 comments) on Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 5:25:46 PM

GW is a proud American from NY State, concerned about ethics issues, media manipulation and overconsumption. He has recently changed careers to become an inner city schoolteacher. A firm proponent of curbing overpopulation and international adoption, he hopes to adopt a third child and enjoys history, outsider art, garage rock music and rare/unusual vinyl records.
Gustav WynnGW is a proud American from NY State, concerned about ethics issues, media manipulation and overconsumption. He has recently changed careers to become an inner city schoolteacher. A firm proponent of curbing overpopulation and international adoption, he hopes to adopt a third child and enjoys history, outsider art, garage rock music and rare/unusual vinyl records.

Media is a middleman/censor for the Presidential Elections

I think it's essential to understand and teach your children that the problem with the presidential election system is the fact that it's all a vehicle to sell ad time and get ratings and that issues, ethics and policy are all secondary.

To get elected president is to raise hundreds of millions that will chiefly be used to buy ad space - mostly TV time. This goes to the networks and TV stations.

The "news" coverage of presidential elections provides "lead story" material for media every day for almost two years in each election cycle. They are shaping the elections for the voters in deciding who and what to cover. The networks get incredible ratings covering the campaigns, conventions and elections.

Think about the importance of these plain facts. The media gets almost all of the money you contribute to candidates. They can make or break a candidate overnight, just like they can make or break any celebrity. Whoever gets air time gets name recognition and notoriety - this is wholly controlled by network execs. And who do networks get their income from? Corporations, advertisers, industries and industries. Topping this list is big pharma, big auto, credit cards and beer companies.

So it is impossible to talk about presidential politics without understanding the "golden triangle" of wealth. Every campaign season, candidates raise money from the people and pay it to networks for ad time. The American people are enriching the media who spins the news for us.

If we cut out the middleman, and had a state sponsored TV channel that allowed candidates time to get their messages out, it would not only cost far less, it would eliminate any third party bias. Imagine being able to call in a candidate and ask them real questions live on TV. That would revolutionize politics because corporate money would no longer sit between you and your president.

by Gustav Wynn (47 articles, 33 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 224 comments) on Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 10:57:08 PM

I am a 46 years old,married and have a 16 year old daughter.My hobbies are bicyling, weight training and off road motorcycling.I have lived in a midwestern red state my entire 46 years.Now that I have reached middle age I have become interested in politics and its related fields of study.I dont often think of things being either liberal or conservative,I like to veiw political events in an objective manner and find the agenda or reason that a bill or policy is brought to bear.Simply put seeking ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Gary DensonI am a 46 years old,married and have a 16 year old daughter.My hobbies are bicyling, weight training and off road motorcycling.I have lived in a midwestern red state my entire 46 years.Now that I have reached middle age I have become interested in politics and its related fields of study.I dont often think of things being either liberal or conservative,I like to veiw political events in an objective manner and find the agenda or reason that a bill or policy is brought to bear.Simply put seeking ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

debate questions

Kent these are all very good questions and I am sure many of the candidates would answer them with a big line of word crafted bullshit that no one could make heads or tails of. Some would address the questions honestly and probably admit that America is fast becoming a corporate controlled oligarchy.

Your questions about NAFTA and free trade are very important because I believe this policy has dramatically increased corporate power and is the most useful tool corporations have for the enslavement of labor.

Some very important questions were not mentioned in your article and they are, Do you believe that it is right for an administration to look the other way and allow business to break tax and employment laws by hiring illegal immigrants? Look the other way when illegal immigrants use fake or borrowed social security numbers or drivers licences? Do you believe that our borders should be open and that a north American union should be formed so that goods and services(labor) can flow more freely? will allowing a massive amount of immigrants into our country create a labor surplus thus effectively driving down wages to near slavery level.

These issues are important as corporate interests love trade policies like NAFTA and also are working hard to put together a system were they can have access to an unlimited amount of guest workers from anywhere in the world. This will destroy the American way of life and our middle class. The end result will be a country were two percent of the people hold ninety eight percent of the wealth.

by Gary Denson (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 197 comments) on Sunday, May 6, 2007 at 8:55:31 AM

Bill Cain is a professional travel photo-journalist who writes primarily for the Concord Monitor in Concord, New Hampshire. He's visited all seven continents, countless countries and his travel experiences have contributed to and are reflected in his world views.
Bill CainBill Cain is a professional travel photo-journalist who writes primarily for the Concord Monitor in Concord, New Hampshire. He's visited all seven continents, countless countries and his travel experiences have contributed to and are reflected in his world views.

Debate Questions

The only question worth asking is, "Have you examined the overwhelming mountain of evidence that shows that 9-11 was something other than what the official story says it was; have you thought critically about this evidence, and come to an informed conclusion?"

Everything else is window dressing.

by Bill Cain (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 258 comments) on Monday, May 14, 2007 at 11:01:35 AM

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